Powell’s American Legion is growing its community events as a way to raise money for a Patriot Community Center to serve the community. 

That includes more events at the Park County Fairgrounds, and Tuesday commissioners agreed to give the organization an even more reduced rate than normal for nonprofits due to the community nature of the fundraising. 

After discussions, commissioners granted the Patriot Community Center Planning Committee ability to use the fairgrounds in May at 25% of the normal charge — the standard nonprofit rate is 50% — for a fairgrounds-wide event next year featuring a car show, Figure 8 race and more as a way to raise funds for the new community center. 

“We're hoping to have a cornhole tournament going on, Figure 8 racing, car show, vendors,” Legion member Donald Meschke said. “So it's going to be hopefully a really big event.”

The Legion unveiled early in the year plans for a roughly 28,000-square-foot community center to not just replace the current 5,000-square-foot Legion space, but make it a place for a variety of community organizations. 

It would feature a large space to seat up to 700 that can be divided, rooms for a number of veterans and community organizations, space for light rehab for veterans after VA care ends, space for even more stores of food to be able to act as a regional Food Bank of Wyoming hub, a temporary emergency management center in case of a disaster, and more. 

The commissioners were willing to make an exception for the event as it’ll be both a free community event and its cause: To raise money for what would be not just a Legion, but a community building. 

“I think it's a very noteworthy cause,” Commission Chair Scott Steward said, adding, “this is very evident to me what they're trying to accomplish here.”

Russell Stafford, past Post 26 commander and the commander of The American Legion Department of Wyoming, said the Park County chapter of Disabled American Veterans is becoming active again to assist with achieving the building project, and the Legion is also getting help from the American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their auxiliary organization. 

He said the Veterans Navigation Network, which helps veterans and their families transition out of the military, has also expressed interest in utilizing a space in the building. 

“This is getting a little bit bigger and bigger as it goes on, which is fantastic,” said Stafford. 

Visit patriotcommunitycenter.org, for updates on the progress.