Grant approved for bowling alley

Sugarbowl back on track, groundbreaking planned for early August


CARRABASSETT VALLEY — After four years of planning and applying for grants, Kerry Audet has announced that the Sugarbowl Family Entertainment Center and Sports Pub is moving forward.

Audet applied for an Economic Development Program Grant in 2013 but was denied the grant when banks opted not to become involved with a project that would be built on land leased from Sugarloaf.

Audet regrouped and came forward earlier this year with anonymous partners. Valley Bowl Corporation again applied for a $450,000 Economic Development Program Grant and planned on purchasing the Carrabassett Inn to use as the bowling alley location. That grant was denied May 15. According to Audet the grant program felt the request for $450,000 was tough to justify in an area they felt was not economically distressed.

Audet asked for reconsideration on the grounds that the bank would not stand behind the project unless he was granted at least $300,000. Audet received official notice of approval of that request July 3.

The grant money will be held by the Town of Carrabassett Valley until grant requirements are met. One of those requirements states that the equivalent of one full time employee needs to be hired for every $30,000 granted.

Audet will be required to create 10 new positions to receive the grant and part of those positions must be filled by low to moderate income individuals. Once those positions are filled, the grant administrator would approve the release of the funds at which time the town would turn the money over to Audet.

Groundbreaking of the 8,800-square-foot facility will take place in early August.



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