Laserfiche WebLink
17 <br />determined. The Steering Committee will be consulting with volunteers with expertise in restoration during 2023 to <br />inform the scope of work for each phase; the committee will then request estimates from local contractors to inform <br />future fundraising goals. <br />Strategy for Maintaining Momentum <br />Recognizing the amount of time it will take to raise the funding to fully restore the schoolhouse, the Committee has <br />closely considered how to maintain momentum in the years leading up to the opening of the heritage center, with a <br />focus on ensuring that every dollar raised is used efficiently and effectively to accelerate progress toward the goal. Two <br />key strategies have emerged: <br />Position the Restoration Project as the first Community Engagement and Leadership initiative run by the <br />Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center. <br />Beyond raising the funds needed to restore the schoolhouse, the act of restoring the building provides an opportunity to <br />demonstrate the mission of the new non-profit in action. To achieve this aim, we will: <br />1) Work to engage contractors from the local community to: <br />Provide updated estimates on all phases of the restoration work. <br />Enlist their support to approach vendors regarding donated materials and labor. <br />Inquire about other local community and business leaders who may wish to get involved with the project. <br />This is an approach that has already proven successful for the project. <br />Highlighted Example: Doug and DJ Amundson with Precise Exteriors installed the temporary covering on the roof, soffit, <br />and chimney on the building, paid the labor charges directly, volunteered several hours to help with planning, hanging <br />solar lights and signage, and providing guidance on options available to approach the first two phases of the project. <br />Precise Exteriors’ involvement saved the project more than $2,500 on the temporary roof and soffit covering. <br />The new estimate provided by Precise Exteriors for the permanent repair of the roof and siding is approximately <br />145,000 less than the amount quoted in the preliminary cost estimate provided by Greiner in October of 2021. <br />Beyond the work on the building, Doug has also made important connections to others in the community who are <br />making impactful contributions to the project. This includes connecting the team with Brigg Backer who donated his <br />time to produce and release the YouTube video helping to raise awareness of the project – the video has been viewed <br />more than 1,100 times. <br />2) Seek to partner with training programs that: <br />Engage with communities on restoration projects. <br />Play a role in connecting students with community engagement initiatives. <br />This strategy can both help to demonstrate the mission of the Heritage Center in action and help lower restoration <br />costs. <br />Highlighted Example: The Northern Bedrock Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop enduring <br />workforce and life skills through service learning in historic preservation and community stewardship. They use a <br />conservation corps model to provide young adults (18-25) hands-on experience and training in the historic preservation <br />trades. Each crew includes 5-6 corps members who complete a 9-day hitch rotation. They work along technical <br />instructors who teach and mentor them to maintain and repair historic resources, including structures. The Northern <br />Bedrock Project has agreed to come out to the site (as soon as weather allows) to assess and make recommendations on <br />projects that would be suitable for their corps. <br />A key component of our landscape assessment will include identifying other potential partners (e.g. technical colleges, <br />trade unions) that could partner in similar ways.