Cadillac Products to provide a huge financial boost to senior center repairs
by Peter Jakey
Managing Editor
With just about a month before the possible closing of the Rogers City Area Senior & Community Center (RCASCC) one local company is trying to ensure that the doors stay open beyond the end of August and into the future.
Cadillac Products Automotive Company of Rogers City is not only pledging $10,000, but will provide a dollar-for-dollar match of the community donations that are made, up to $56,500, according to plant manager Robert Klein.
RCASCC manager Jennifer Mansfield sent out 200 letters to area businesses and this is how Cadillac Products has responded.
“When we received the letter, we wanted to do something to try and help the community out,” said Klein. “Knowing that quite a few of our employees have used the facility, myself included, for varying events such as weddings and baby showers, as well as senior center activities. We wanted to help them out.
“I reached out to our CEO to see what we can do help out the need.”
For several years, the roof of the facility has been failing, but it reached the point last year where the hall had to be closed because of falling ceiling tiles and insulation
RCASCC received a grant and loan from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for $202,500 about a year ago to completely repair the roof, but it was discovered that the b-decking needed to be completely replaced and the bill nearly doubled. The HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) has since been red-tagged by a local contractor.
The estimated cost to completely replace the b-decking, install a new membrane roof and HVAC unit is estimated to cost $400,000.
However, the momentum is starting to swing in favor of this vital part of the community. Just Tuesday morning, St. Peter Lutheran Church provided a $500 check with more work to do.
“The community is showing support in many ways,” said Mansfield. “The GoFundMe page is the best way to track the progress. Pledges are really starting to add up. We had a bake sale and many took the time to make goodies or take some for a donation.”
RCASCC is raffling a 200-pound processed pig at several events during the Nautical City Festival and Mansfield said there were only 1,000 printed and wi
“They will be available during the drive-thru spaghetti dinner on Thursday (today), the farmers’ market on Friday. We will have some available during the arts and crafts as well. They are also available at the center.”
“We are going to try and help at some of the events,” Klein added.
Seventy three percent of the total estimated cost, or $291,352, has been raised, or about 73 percent.
Additionally, there will be a movie fundraiser at the Rogers Theater, Aug. 25, with the showing of “Calendar Girls.”
The fundraising deadline is Aug. 31.
