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Rural facilities receive funding boosts

Benalto’s historic train station project and a Sunnybrook Farm Museum school restoration were among more than a dozen projects to get big funding boosts from Red Deer County on Tuesday.

Benalto’s historic train station project and a Sunnybrook Farm Museum school restoration were among more than a dozen projects to get big funding boosts from Red Deer County on Tuesday.

Just under $28,000 was given to the Benalto group that moved its historic train station back home in April to form the centrepiece of a park.

Built in 1928 for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it will be the prime attraction in Centennial Station Park, which will feature a gazebo, benches and landscaping to make it a village hub.

The county’s cash will go towards moving the train station on to foundations.

It was among 14 projects receiving funding from the county’s $250,000 Rural Community Facility Capital Assistance Grants program. Grants ranged from $56,500 for kitchen renovation at Pine Lake’s The Hub Community Association to $2,105 for a new water filtration system at Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society’s Fensala Hall.

Sunnybrook Farm Museum was turned down for $50,000 in funding as part of a $341,000 project to restore the Calder Community School because it is located in the City of Red Deer and didn’t fit the capital assistance grant criteria.

However, council was keen to provide funding for the school, calling it an important historic resource. Council voted to provide $50,000 out of reserves.

pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com