Groundbreaking Looms For New Great Valley Community Center

MALVERN, PA — The new Great Valley Community Center has cleared hurdles and is on its way to a late summer groundbreaking, with financing under consideration from Meridian Bank.

Great Valley Community Organization Executive Director Keith Walsh said all county and local governmental approvals have been completed for the community center at 51 N. Bacton Hill Road. Local financing from Meridian Bank for the project's first phase should be finalized in the next week, Walsh said.

"You will see the bulldozers begin moving dirt within weeks," he said.

GVCO and the Great Valley community have raised $2.3 million privately for the project. Walsh said GVCO is "re-engaging" the Capital Campaign, which was paused due to pandemic, and is planning to complete the project by 2022. The GVCO website said it is aim to raise another $1 million for the project.

"Although we have yet to raise the necessary funding to complete the entire complex, our GVCO Board felt that getting a portion of the complex operational was imperative so programming for our community could continue," Walsh said.

GVCO chose Meridian Bank to handle its financing needs and IMC Construction, GVCO's general contractor, is finalizing the construction budget and timeline for Meridian, Walsh reported.

"Our GVCO Board felt it was important to choose a local banking partner who also has a vested interest in our Great Valley community. Meridian was a logical choice beyond the outlined initial terms. Chris Annas, the bank's founder has long-lasting ties to our community and GVCO, having lived here and his kids participating in GVCO programming," the organization stated.

A detailed presentation about the new GVCO Community Center can be viewed here.

Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.