Mineola Civic Center ended year in the black despite challenges

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 12/31/20

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mineola Civic Center was able to finish the year in the black and continue with plans for major renovations to the 46-year-old facility.

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Mineola Civic Center ended year in the black despite challenges

Posted

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mineola Civic Center was able to finish the year in the black and continue with plans for major renovations to the 46-year-old facility.

The pandemic forced cancellation of numerous events scheduled at the center and the adjacent RV park, starting with the chamber of commerce annual banquet in March.

Civic clubs that utilize the facilities also halted their meetings for several months, and many RV-related events had to be postponed or cancelled.

The center nevertheless continued to service the community through innovative techniques such as setting up a wifi hot spot for the community, including students trying to get their education remotely after schools were shuttered in March.

The center also hosted one of the early COVID-19 testing sites in the county.

The park areas around the center continued to host allowable recreational activities.

As with many other facilities and businesses, the civic center implemented rigorous cleaning procedures, including the purchase of an electrostatic sprayer.

One area utilized to help with the income shortfall from canceled events was establishment of the civic center annual fund to help support operations, and the new “Friends of the Mineola Civic Center” giving group.

Prior to the pandemic the civic center had announced plans for major renovations to the facility to help it be competitive with other similar centers in the region.

Civic center manager Nancy Murphy said those plans are ongoing.

The center has named Sherrill Construction as the construction manager at-risk for the project.

Murphy expects the center will have a clearer picture of the costs sometime after the first of the year.

Once those are known the capital funds campaign to raise the estimated $3 million can get underway.

In the background, the MCC board is working on a new strategic plan, identifying critical success factors, and new mission and vision statements are nearing completion.

A new database for tracking and communicating with constituents has also been implemented, and the center also has a new website redesign in progress to be launched early in 2021.

The center is a non-profit tax-exempt organization and is not affiliated with any government entity. It receives some operating funds through the Meredith Foundation.