Issue link: http://frankenmuthcvb.uberflip.com/i/1547089
T he term "Sports Complex" has been used to describe several different sports project concepts in Frankenmuth over the past 2 decades. Over time, those concepts have evolved into two exciting paths forward that the City (including the DDA & Parks and Recreation) and the Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau have worked on together. These types of complex developments take years of feasibility, planning, design and fundraising and for many communities, they never become a reality. While the City continues to work on the development of the outdoor sports complex on Weiss Street, we are excited to announce that the groundbreaking of the indoor sports complex is less than a month away. The Frankenmuth Convention & Visitors Bureau (FCVB) became actively involved in 2018 taking action towards the vision to develop an indoor complex. It began leading the development of the indoor complex on the north end of town in late 2021 and is committed to be a substantial funder of the facility. The FCVB is a private non-profit organization tied to the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, but governed by its own Board of Directors. The FCVB is funded by lodging taxes and assessments that are collected from visitors staying in our local lodging facilities. These assessments and taxes are governed by the State of Michigan and Saginaw County through laws that enable them and direct the allowable use. The FCVB is entrusted with proper use and management of those resources under strict guidelines. Neither the FCVB nor this project are funded by local property tax dollars. While the FCVB helped lead the project from early development, the property and facility will be owned by the Frankenmuth Growth & Development Foundation (FGDF/The Foundation), a 501C3 charitable non-profit. A couple of years ago, the Foundation established a committee named the Sports and Tourism Alliance (STA). That group has been actively engaged and meeting nearly every other week for the last 2 years on the design and construction details including the schedule and budget. As the facility owner, the FGDF is also responsible for management of the facility. The group is in the process of negotiating a contract with a national company to manage all day-to-day activities including community programming, fitness center memberships, booking and hosting tournaments and providing opportunities for community wellness and gathering of all kinds. 10