GRAND FORKS – If a proposed sports facility becomes a reality, Altru Health System’s total cash and land contributions to Greater Grand Forks organizations would increase to more than $30 million in just over a decade. become.
On Tuesday, city leaders held an event at City Hall to announce that Grand Forks-based healthcare provider Artur has committed $10 million to sports facilities, which will be the focus of a citywide vote on Tuesday, Nov. 14. did. The $1 million will give Altru naming rights to the facility, which is worth about $100 million, with payments to be paid over 25 years.
“Obviously we are very excited about this project and our confidence in this project speaks for itself. ” Altru CEO Todd Forkel said of the organization’s commitment to the proposed sports facility. “We are confident and encouraged by everything we talked about today that there is great potential for this to happen and become a reality in our community.”
Technically, Tuesday’s vote will decide the fate of the 0.75% sales tax that has been in place in Grand Forks since the mid-1990s, the proceeds of which have paid for the construction and upkeep of the Aleras Center. Ta. Scheduled to be repealed in 2029, voters will have to decide if they want the tax to continue as is and, if so, declare that the proceeds will be used to build an indoor sports facility near the Aleras Center. I will do it. pickleball courts and, specifically, an aquatics facility that will replace the one that is being demolished at UND’s Hyslop Sports Center.
Altru’s interest in the proposal stems from the nonprofit’s “mission to give back to community projects that improve the health and well-being of our residents,” Forkel said.
The indoor sports facility “aligns well with (Artur’s) mission and vision,” he said. And if built, Arthur’s gift would continue a series of high-profile, large-scale efforts made in recent years.
Over the past two years, Altru has made the following donations:
● Land for a planned children’s museum in Grand Forks, valued at $4 million.
● $1,004,150 for the Grand Forks Career Impact Academy under construction in the city’s north end.
● Donated $750,000 to Grand Forks Public Schools in connection with Cushman Field renovations and sports medicine services.
Altru has also offered a number of recent “established gifts” with longer payment terms over the past decade or so. This includes donations of:
● $6.5 million for the Grand Forks Park District. It will be used to build Choice Health and Fitness on the south end of Grand Forks.
● Donated $10 million to the UND Foundation to facilitate construction of the Fritz Pollard Athletic Center.
● $450,000 will be donated to the City of East Grand Forks in connection with wellness activities and investments.
In total, that’s more than $22 million in donations in just over a decade, and that doesn’t include the $10 million commitment announced this week for an indoor sports facility, and of course, the entire project. Awaiting voter approval. It also does not include other smaller donations made by hospitals during this period.
Forkel said that as a nonprofit health care provider, the organization is required to serve the community in a variety of ways.
“One of the ways we do that is by supporting initiatives that align with our mission. The Artur Sports Complex provides our community with opportunities to be active year-round and is committed to safety and health. ” he said, reiterating the alignment with Artur’s mission and vision. “We are confident that this facility will also make a huge difference in supporting the overall quality of life and vitality of our community. This is one way we can give back.”
This coincides with the construction of Artur’s $475 million hospital, which will rise above the Grand Forks skyline along Columbia Road. The new facility is a seven-story, 226-bed building that will be “one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the Midwest,” and is expected to begin accepting its first patients in early 2025, Forkel said. He told the Herald in May.
Mayor Brandon Bochenski praised Artur’s contribution to the proposed indoor sports facility this week, noting how important quality-of-life amenities are to the city.
“We are very grateful to have Artur as a solid partner in (the city’s) efforts to strengthen and grow our community,” Bochenski said.
Meanwhile, Altru is also ramping up its commitment to Devils Lake. In 2022, Artur signed a letter of intent to work with Essentia Health, the City of Devils Lake, and the Spirit Lake Nation to potentially build a new medical campus in Devils Lake.
Forkel said the donations and community donations in and around Grand Forks will not affect the hospital’s efforts at Devil’s Lake.
“Funds spent on this project will be allocated to community benefit initiatives and will not impact planned spending on operations or capital projects,” he said of the proposed sports facility. Ta.
Some of Artur’s largest donations over the past decade include a $250,000 gift to Devil’s Lake Public Schools related to “sports medicine and health care services,” according to Artur.