Grants "mooove" Holland Commons one step closer - Dubois County Free Press, Inc.

A rendition of the Holland Commons, a community gathering place in the heart of the Town of Holland.

The Holland Commons project has received a $17,000 in funding through endowments with the Dubois County Community Foundation.

The Holland Events Committee channeled their mascot, Cool Cow, when they announced they have “moooved” forward in the community’s dream of downtown revitalization.

According to Community Foundation’s Director of Programs, Nona Baker, the project received the grants based upon the opportunity for an enhanced quality of place that the Holland Commons will provide to the community.

A portion of the grant was provided through the Maurice C. Woods Memorial Endowment. “After moving here from Kentucky in 1962 and then starting Woods Printing Company in 1971, my father strove to ensure that he fully supported his community in many different ways,” said project co-chair Sharon Springston. “Supporting this exciting project through the Maurice C. Woods Memorial Endowment Fund certainly honors my father’s legacy and pride in our community.”

The Lynne (Bilderback) Weber Messmer Endowment also made a presentation to the Holland project. “Mom loved Holland and she would be happy everyone is working to improve the downtown.” Meagan Weber Bayer said. “We are happy to contribute to the project in her honor.”

The resources will add to the committee’s current fundraising campaign focusing on mailing brochures to Holland High School Alumni, Cass Township residents, and area businesses. Brochures are also available at German American Bank Holland Location, The Dutch Mart, and Family Roots Nursery.

The group’s goal is raising $120,000 for the commons and an additional $20,000 for an endowment to sustain the project into the future.

“Our organizing committee wants to ensure the Commons will be an asset to Holland and all of Dubois County for generations to come,” project co-chair Lee Bilderback said. “The sustaining endowment will help maintain the Commons without being a financial burden to the town of Holland. Our community’s memorials to the Indiana Centennial in 1916 still stand in three locations in Cass Township and we would like our bicentennial memorial to last even longer.”

Holland Commons, recently designated as an official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission, is a four pillared project designed as a beautiful and functional downtown center. The focus includes the Gazebo, a public gathering location; historic sculpture, complete with town logo and town history; memorial flagpole, to be dedicated to area servicemen and women; and a green space providing shade and promoting wellness to citizens and visitors. The commons will occupy the corner of Main and Fourth Streets in Holland.

“This concept started as a simple conversation and has evolved into a project that everyone in the community can benefit from,” said Andrea Peters, Holland Event Committe president. “The residents of Holland are very proud of their community and this committee is doing great things to preserve our history and leave this town better for the generations to come. We genuinely appreciate everyone’s support in making this a reality.”