Did the university purchase the land where the KCAC will be located?
No. A coalition of community leadership groups purchased the land, and because it is owned by the commonwealth's Department of General Services, it is available for use by IUP. In 2002, IUP and the community, led by attorney Mike Delaney, the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce and Welcome to Indiana made a decision to pursue the purchase of thirty-three acres owned by the Kovalchick Salvage Company along Wayne Avenue as the site for the complex. In February, 2003, Senator Don White met with Governor Ed Rendell to secure additional state funds toward the property acquisition. Three months later, the governor traveled to Indiana to announce a $5 million commitment of state funding for property acquisition. The local leaders immediately went to work raising the additional $5 million necessary to complete the $10 million acquisition. Commitments from the ICDC ($1 million), Indiana Borough and White Township ($500,000 each), the Indiana County Board of Commissioners ($1.4 million), additional state funding ($1 million), and federal money ($600,000) provided the matching funds.
I've heard that the university needs to raise $20 million in matching funds for the KCAC. What does the term "matching funds" mean?
In 2000, Governor Tom Ridge pledged $20 million from the commonwealth for this facility upon the condition that the university raises $20 million in funding from private individuals, businesses, corporations, foundations, or federal sources. "Matching funds" simply means that IUP will "match" the $20 million from the commonwealth by raising $20 million for construction of the KCAC.
Is this facility really going to be open to the community? What kind of events will be offered at the KCAC?
While the building will be owned and managed by the university, the complex will be open to the community. Events to be offered may include regional sporting competitions at the elementary or high school level; trade shows and expositions for area businesses; conferences; concerts of all types; large lectures and panel discussions; and many more.
