How do you define the “American Dream”? Is it a strong family, financial well-being, a home of your own? The definition of the “American Dream” can be different for every person. For a business, the “American Dream” can be profitability, a new service offering, or facility expansion. For the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation, that dream is a place of its own where the BACF can continue to grow and support the charitable organizations, educational institutions and municipalities of Bucyrus and Crawford County.
Thanks to a grant from the Timken Foundation, the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation has agreed to purchase the Bucyrus Public Library Annex from the Bucyrus Public Library, when full funding becomes available. The Annex, which is located at the corner of Lane Street and East Mansfield Street in Bucyrus, was a restaurant prior to its acquisition by the Bucyrus Public Library. Proceeds from the sale of the Annex to the BACF will pay off the remaining debt from the Bucyrus Public Library’s construction of a new addition.
“This was never in the plans when the Foundation was started,” said Libby McPeek, one of the founding board members for the BACF. “The idea (individual office space for the Foundation) was unnecessary at the time because the Foundation was too small,” she continued. Now, with more than 10 (ten) million dollars in assets, an Executive Director and Program Assistant, the time has come for the BACF to have a home of its own.
Already Half Way to the Goal
The Timken grant is for $150,000 and will be used for the purchase and renovation of the building. According to estimates from Whiteamire Architects, the full cost of the project is estimated to total between $250,000 and $275,000. The office will serve not only as the home of the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation, but will also be the new home of Crawford College Connection.
“Along with using monies from the BACF Fund, the board of directors has decided to seek assistance from the community to raise additional funds to complete the purchase, renovation and furnishing of the space,” said BACF Executive Director Janet Pry. “The timing was right for both the Foundation and the Bucyrus Library to make this move. This new office space will provide greater visibility for the BACF and will allow us to continue to support the non-profit, education and scientific endeavors of our community,” she concluded.
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