Grants fund Community Center renovations

Multiple grants helped fund a much-needed facelift for the Delta Junction Community Center, with renovations completed throughout the building this summer.

A $70,000 grant from the Rasmussen Foundation, a $10,000 grant from Kinross, and a $10,000 rollover from the City budget set the project in motion. The renovations included new flooring throughout the building, including the kitchen, bathrooms, storage area and senior lounge.

“But this is where we were momentarily stalled,” said City Administrator Lori Roberts. “As with many older buildings in the area, we came across asbestos in the flooring.”

Rather than cover the material, the City opted to have it professionally removed by a Fairbanks company specializing in asbestos abatement. The work cost $52,975.

J&J Specialties installed the new flooring at the facility and added wainscoting around the main community area. City employees handled the painting and built and installed soundboards to improve the room’s acoustics.

“It was going to cost $10,000 in total for buying and shipping the soundboards,” Roberts said. “We built them in-house, and Andrea Peters, our administrative clerk, volunteered to cover them in a decorative fabric.

Roberts said the project dates back to 2024, when the City first received estimates for the work. Grant applications were prepared and submitted in 2025.

The City also received funding through the Alaska Energy Authority’s Renewable Energy Village Energy Efficiency Program (RE-VEEP) to replace the building’s seven doors at a cost of $51,080. Established by the Alaska Legislature in 2010, the program helps communities reduce energy consumption through efficiency improvements.

With the work nearly complete, the Community Center is preparing to welcome renters under a simplified fee structure.

“The work is nearly complete and ready for the public to rent,” Roberts said. “Anyone wanting to use the space just needs to contact the City Clerk.”

The City has streamlined the rental process by establishing a flat $200 fee that includes the use of chairs, tables, and the kitchen, eliminating separate charges for individual items. A $200 deposit is also required to cover potential damages.

Groups may access the facility the evening before their event to decorate and set up. A separate $125 fee will apply for stage setup and takedown.

The Community Center renovation is one of several projects the City is working to wrap up before winter arrives.

The Visitor Center is nearing completion, while seven new graves are scheduled to be dug at the cemetery. The cemetery’s expansion area has been seeded, and the road has been graded. Additional gravel is expected to be laid later this week.

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