2021 Stadium Renovations UPDATE 4/2021
Stadium Fund Donation efforts ramp back UP!!!
So far in 2021, the Smithsburg Athletic Boosters Club (SABC) has resigned the expiring MOU with the Board of Education (BOE) to partner in order to expediate updates to the SHS Stadium and Athletic Fields. In this new multi-million dollar agreement, SABC has tabled the construction of the Locker Rooms & Concession stand due to COVID impacts and potential new regulations forthcoming dictating its design and use. The BOE is holding $350,000 toward future construction of these (2) buildings.
INSTEAD, SABC and BOE have agreed to turn our focus on installing Articfical Turf, Track update, Stadium lights and Scoreboard upgrades. SABC and our community has raised a total of $340,000 in cash towards this 1st part of the project and received a $50,000 Bond Bill from the State of MD. The BOE project planning team is currently drafting the RFP to have these upgrades designed and estimated for the next step. SABC will apply the $50,000 State Bond Bill towards these design costs. Along with SABC money, the BOE has another $175,000 in funds to go towards this 1st phase and SABC has opportunity to take out a $325,000 loan with the BOE as well, if needed. We have also applied for a $200,000 State Bond Bill though Senator Corderman as well.
Once the design/layout work of this 1st phase is completed in the coming months, we will know the true cost of each of the (4) improvement items listed above to upgrade the Stadium. At that point, we will fire up our efforts to raise large chunks of money from business, govt. intities, and donors in order to proceed. As we have the funds to proceed with any part of this 1st phase, we will look to the BOE to start construction, but we need to raise a lot more to get there.
SABC appreciates your support and if everyone can spread the word about our cause, we can make this dream happen for our students/alumni/parents/community at large!! Please contact myself for any information potential donor needs, especially corporate donors.
Thank you,
Mark Barnhart
VP Boosters & Stadium Committee Chair.