St. Cloud Aquatic and Community Center Moving Forward, Fundraising Done

ST. CLOUD -  St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis and St. Cloud YMCA Executive Director Greg Gack stood at the site of the future St. Cloud Aquatic and Community Center this (Wednesday) morning to announce the fundraising portion of the project is done.

Gack says they've finished raising the $11 million needed for the facility and that they're grateful for the community support.

"It's truly the entire community, including individuals and businesss who came to support this, every penny we could generate will be used for this project."

The city is chipping in another $14 million is half-cent sales tax money. The total cost of the project is about $25 million.

The final approval will come from the St. Cloud City Council, with the groundbreaking happening before Christmas.

Kleis says the facility is scheduled to be done by early 2017. It will be next to the Whitney Center Center in north St. Cloud.

"The goal has always been to have it by 2016 but it will be open 2017. The goal will still be there but we want to be sure to have a realistic aspect."