Grafton leaders seek $10 million state challenge grant for regional wellness center under House Bill 1548

Grafton — Supporters of House Bill 1548 told the House Human Services Committee that a state appropriation would seed a regional wellness center to replace or renovate the aging Collette Fitness Center at the Life Skills and Transition Center (LSTC) in Grafton.

Rep. Dave Munson, R‑District 19, introduced the bill and said the existing state‑owned pool and fitness center are aging. “There is a small indoor pool that really serves the community a little. It is aging and it needs work,” Munson said, describing local fundraising and state partnership proposals.

Christie Hendrickson Wilford, a Grafton native and one of the bill proponents, described the request as a $10,000,000 appropriation structured as a challenge grant for a new regional wellness center that would double available indoor year‑round activity space and serve multiple partners, including the local health system, Grafton Public Schools, Grafton Parks and Recreation, the City of Grafton and the Life Skills and Transition Center. Wilford asked the committee to consider an amendment to add $800,000 for a facility condition assessment and preliminary master planning of the LSTC campus.

Witnesses provided context and community support. Bill Dahl, director of Grafton Parks and Recreation, said the state‑run Collette center (opened 1967) is functionally aged and that local partners have explored taking over operations but face costly infrastructure problems. Unity Medical Center executives and local physicians testified about health benefits of year‑round fitness and aquatics programming for physical and mental health. Dawn Mant, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, described broader regional workforce and housing efforts and said the wellness center would be a quality‑of‑life asset to attract and retain people to northeast North Dakota.

Proponents described the finance plan as a mix of local fundraising, a half‑cent sales tax approved by voters for a pool project and private donors, with the state’s $10,000,000 acting as seed/challenge money to leverage additional local commitments. Testimony noted the total project estimate is roughly $35,000,000 and that the $10,000,000 request is intended to be one portion of a larger funding package. Several witnesses emphasized inclusion of LSTC clients in programming and accessibility improvements (zero‑entry pool access, updated locker rooms and safer walking surfaces).

Committee members asked about ownership, operations and sustainability. Witnesses said ownership and operating models are still under study by IBIS Enterprises and community partners; Grafton Parks and Recreation indicated it could be a likely operator if transitioned from state ownership. No formal committee action was recorded in the hearing transcript.