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Breaking Ground on the Sunrise Community Resource Center’s Final Phase
Turning a shared dream into a lasting cornerstone for Arenac County
From a Shuttered School to a Shared Vision
Back on May 18, 2018, leaders from the Arenac Community Center (ACC), WELL Outreach, and Standish-Sterling Community Schools gathered around a folding table inside the vacant Standish-Sterling Elementary building. Their question was simple: “How do we breathe new life into these halls so families, children, and local employers all win?”
That conversation ignited a journey that has carried the property—and the community—far beyond its original bricks and mortar.
Milestones That Paved the Way
| Year | Milestone | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Community starts conversations about the concept of a Community Center at the shuttered building. | |
| 2018 | Arenac Community Center, 501c3, takes the lead and starts moving a plan forward. | |
| 2019 | ACC opens portions of the building for after-school programs, meetings, and recreation | Proof-of-concept for a full-service hub |
| 2020 | ACC becomes the focal point for resources as the community goes through a 100 year flood. | |
| 2021 | Project Fitness raises nearly $56,000 with Forward Corporation’s $20 K match—funding an outdoor playscape, walking path, gazebo, and dog park | Outdoor wellness space becomes reality (Arenac Community Center raises over $20K to earn Forward Corp. match) |
| March 2024 | Sunrise Community Resource Center secures a $1.1 million Community Center Grant from the Michigan Dept. of Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO) with Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) serving as fiscal agent | Capital makeover of the 1970s school begins ([$1.1 million grant to expand, grow community services |
| Today | Ground-breaking for the final phase—the finish line that transforms vision into a fully operational, community-owned hub | Start of construction on the last interior and exterior upgrades |
What This Final Phase Will Deliver
- A Health & Wellness Wing—complete with a walking track, recreation courts, and fitness studios.
- Early-Childhood & After-School Suites—licensed childcare during the day, afterschool care and community organizations brining in parent groups, art and recreation classes.
- Workforce Development Labs—designated area where students and organizations can work together to support up-skilling needs.
- Integrated Social-Service Offices—so families can meet with organizations that specialize in breaking down Social Determinants of Health through public-health, housing resources, and food-security advocates under one roof.
- Event & Celebration Commons—meeting space and a gym-to-gala space for graduation ceremonies, weddings, and community dinners.
Voices From the Community
“Growing up and living in a rural community, I’ve come to understand that connection and access are not just luxuries—they’re lifelines… The SCRC is where we don’t just live next to one another, we live with one another.”
— Heather Bauman, MiHIA Partner & The WELL Outreach Director“We’re incredibly grateful to those who laid the foundation for what will become a robust community hub meeting an array of area needs,” Darren Kroczaleski, Standish-Sterling District Superintendent said. “Had Shara Klenk and a dedicated group of supporters not stepped up in 2017 to begin the community center concept here, this building likely would have been torn down.”
“This is such a great example of what can be accomplished when a community works together to think creatively about what they need and want for their future,” said Heidi Tracy, CEO of the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance. “The Sunrise Community Resource Center will remove barriers that keep rural families from living their best and healthiest lives and help make Arenac County a vibrant place where businesses want to expand and relocate.George Aultman, Vice President of Strategic Development at Standish-based Vantage Plastics and a Michigan Health Improvement Alliance board member, said he’s optimistic about the benefits this center will bring to the community, “Being very familiar with Standish and the communities around it, I know this initiative will be very beneficial to the people of this area.”
The Ground-Breaking Ceremony Highlights
Golden-Shovel Moment: Steering Team Members, Central Michigan District Health Department, The Michigan Health Improvement Alliance, Standish-Sterling Schools, and our contractors FED to lift the first shovels of soil—symbolizing collective impact with continued success.What Happens Next?
Construction crews will work in rapid succession on mechanical upgrades, accessibility improvements, and interior build-outs. Once the dust settles, governance of the Sunrise Community Resource Center will transfer from MiHIA to an independent community-led board—a key requirement to keep the center responsive to local needs ($1.1 million grant to expand, grow community services | Michigan Health Improvement Alliance).
How You Can Help
- Volunteer: Sign up for clean up days, reach out to our Operations Director on any needs that are current right now. Many of the organizations that currently rent space are looking for volunteers, including Arenac Baby Pantry and Arenac Opportunities, Inc.
- Donate: Tax-deductible gifts to MiHIA and designated to the SCRC can help with the upgrades and center support. Online gifts can be made at SCRC Donation.
- Spread the Word: Share this post and invite friends to tour the site once doors open.
The final phase ground-breaking isn’t merely a construction milestone; it’s a celebration of what can happen when vision, generosity, and grit converge. Together, Arenac County is proving that rural communities can design world-class resources—right in their own backyard.
See you at the ribbon-cutting!
