Leaders of the Austin Community Rec Center initiative announced on Wednesday they have received a $300,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT).

The Otto Bremer Trust, based in St. Paul, Minn., is a private charitable trust established in 1944 by founder Otto Bremer, a successful banker and community business leader. OBT owns 92 percent of Bremer Bank and also manages a diversified investment portfolio. The mission of OBT is to invest in people, places and opportunities in the Upper Midwest. Since its inception, OBT has invested more than $600 million in organizations throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and western Wisconsin

The grant is the latest company donation to assist the approximately 105,000 square foot facility in surpassing its $5 million public fundraising goal.

“The grant and generosity by the Otto Bremer Trust is truly appreciated by the entire community,” said Sandy Anderson, interim director of Vision 2020. “The grant was a key piece of our fundraising efforts as we were able to achieve and exceed our public fundraising goals.”

“The YMCA of Austin and its partners have put careful thought and planning into the Austin Community Recreation Center,” said Brian Lipschultz, co-CEO and trustee, Otto Bremer Trust. “The facility will become an anchor for the community and serve as a symbol of Austin’s continuing progress and commitment to creating a better life for those who live there.”

The new Austin Community Rec Center will be a year-round facility that will serve as a unique service model of community-based services for everyone in the community and area to meet, exercise and play. The recreation campus will have state-of-the-art-fitness facilities such as a family aquatic center, practice facilities and programs supporting healthy living in a safe, affordable environment.

Additionally, the Austin Community Rec Center will have areas free to the public and areas available for access through a daily or monthly fee, preschool programs and classroom for 120 students and a school age child care program for 150 children.

To date, $6.4 million has been raised during the public fundraising campaign, adding to the $25 million previously donated by The Hormel Foundation and $5 million from Hormel Foods.

People are able to donate to the Austin Community Rec Center fund via the Vision 2020 website at www.vision2020austin.com/.

The public is welcome to join Vision 2020 and Austin Community Rec Center officials for a groundbreaking ceremony for the Austin Community Rec Center at noon on Wednesday, July 25, at the location of the new facility (Fourth Avenue and Fourth Street Northeast). A brief presentation will take place followed by the ceremonial first dig toward the new facility.