Anonymous Donor Contributes Quarter of a Million Dollars to The Village of Ridgeway Community Center

The Village of Ridgeway is pleased to share the receipt of an anonymous donation to support the renovation efforts of the former Ridgeway school into the proposed community center located at 208 Jarvis Street, Ridgeway. The unexpected donation totals $250,000, with annual installments of $50,000 through 2025, with the first installment received.

“The overwhelmingly generosity of the donation to the Village of Ridgeway to repurpose the former Ridgeway school into a multi-purpose community center is a true gift,” said President Jon Steen, Village of Ridgeway. “As a small rural community, we now have the opportunity to take the first step towards fulfilling the vision of creating a community center to benefit our residents and the surrounding community with enriching programs, services and development opportunities for all ages for years to come.”

In April 2020, the Ridgeway school was permanently closed by the Dodgeville School District and the Village acquired the property in January 2021. Over the past several months, a feasibility study and community survey were conducted, along with village committees researching and exploring the most cost-effective means for adaptive reuse of the property, its potential for rehabilitation, and how it can serve the needs of the surrounding community.

“The residents of Ridgeway have very strong ties to this building as it has functioned as a source of community identity for over 80 years. The Village purchased the building to guide its future use and provide for a shared space within the village. The generosity and commitment to the community of Ridgeway by this anonymous individual is recognized and immensely appreciated,” said Steen, on behalf of the Ridgeway Village Board of Trustees.

For more information, view the Village of Ridgeway Community Center page.