Blackfalds will be expanding its community hall in a nearly $1.5-million project.
Town council voted unanimously this week to award Shunda Construction the tender to increase the size of the community hall.
The upgrade is being done to provide more space for Parent Link, a program for parents and youngsters recently introduced to Blackfalds. Already, 50 participants and their caregivers have joined the program.
Expanding the community hall will give Parent Link a permanent home. The new addition will also have a retractable divider so the existing hall capacity can be boosted to 300 people from 225.
Council also opted to spend an additional $37,000 to cover the cost of winter construction. This is expected to move up the completion date to the end of May rather than the end of September.
Blackfalds has asked Lacombe County to contribute $294,000 to the project based on the number of users from the county.
Parent Link offers various programs including: play groups, musical classes, early literacy programs, parent education and support groups.
It is run by Central Alberta Parent Link Network, which has five centres in Blackfalds, Lacombe, Ponoka, Rimbey and Wetaskiwin.