Madison Valley Community Center enters a new phase and is moving towards becoming a reality

The Madison Valley Community Center has begun a new phase in their mission to develop a shared space for Ennis and the greater Madison Valley. The non-profits board of directors, consisting of Russ Whitacre, Corrina Christensen, Bruce Eiting, Brian Grossman and Lindsey Degroot have scheduled a series of community listening sessions to help hash out the new plan they are looking to put in place. 

The listening sessions will be held at the Madison Valley Public Library on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m., Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m. and Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.  As a preview to the meetings, board president Lindsey Degroot joined The Madisonian for a Q&A about the current phase of the project. 

Madisonian: What is the value of a community center to Ennis? What kind of programs could it support?

Degroot: A community center gives the Madison Valley something we currently don’t have: a place to gather that’s designed for the whole community where there is something for everyone. Right now, there isn’t one central, flexible space where people of all ages can come together for events, meetings, celebrations, learning or recreation. A community center fills that need.

The Madison Valley Community Center would be designed as a truly multipurpose gathering space. It could host everything from weddings, memorials, birthday parties, and service club meetings to performances, community celebrations and public events. The main meeting room would be flexible enough to support the performing arts, such as theater productions, concerts, and touring groups like the Virginia City Players or the Bozeman Symphony, while also easily converting for lectures, workshops and large meetings.

The center would also support health and wellness programming in partnership with our public health department and other regional providers, including support groups, classes, and educational events. Given our long winters, the building would provide much-needed indoor recreational space, with a gym-style, multifunctional area capable of hosting indoor sports, movement classes and recreational activities year-round.

There’s also an economic benefit. When Ennis can host meetings, trainings, or conferences locally, people stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants and shop locally. That can provide a big economic benefit for a small town.

Another important role of the community center is emergency preparedness and disaster response. The facility is being designed with the ability to serve as a community emergency shelter when needed, such as during wildfires, severe weather or other local emergencies. It could also function as a reunification center for families, a coordination space for emergency services and volunteers, and a central location for information and resources during a crisis. In a rural community like Ennis, having a safe, accessible, multipurpose space that can support emergency response is a real asset, and is something we currently lack.

A recently published qualitative research study and community needs assessment done in partnership with Montana State University showed a clear, documented, evidence-based need for a community center in the Madison Valley. This project is about responding to what people here have said they want and need.

Madisonian: How would this community center be able to be used as a conference center?

Degroot: From the beginning, the planning has included that possibility. The current concepts include a large main gathering space, smaller breakout rooms, and a kitchen that could support catered events. That setup would allow the space to be used for conferences, training, retreats, and regional meetings, while still being flexible enough for everyday community use.

Madisonian: Where is the proposed community center planned to be located?

Degroot: Over the past several months, the MVCC nonprofit board looked seriously at many different options for a site location including vacant land, existing buildings, and other locations, such as the golf course, that had been discussed in the past. After weighing feasibility, cost, infrastructure, and long-term impact, the option that made the most sense was a five-acre parcel on Ennis School District property near the softball fields and bus barn.

This location works for several reasons: it’s accessible, close to town, and could be annexed into the Town of Ennis, which means access to municipal water and sewer instead of having to build expensive private systems. 

It’s also important to be clear that the Community Center would purchase the land at fair market value. The school district is not donating land. They are currently going through a minor subdivision process to legally partition the five acres, and the school district would be fairly compensated for the sale.

There are also benefits for the school district. The community center would provide access to a larger auditorium-style space that could be used for things like graduation, prom, performances, sports, and other large school gatherings, something the district has limited options for right now. This is a mutually beneficial solution that positively impacts both the school district and the community. 

Madisonian: What does the funding look like for the new community center?

Degroot: This project started with a very generous gift. The Ennis Lions Club received a donated home from the Don and Martha Scudder estate, with the intention that the proceeds help seed a future community center. We are incredibly grateful to the Scudder family for that gift and to the Lions Club for stewarding it on behalf of the community.

In addition, federal grant dollars awarded to the County have been allocated toward this project, and Commissioner Bill Todd has been especially supportive and great to work with as this project has taken shape.  

We are still early in the process, and final costs haven’t been determined yet. Early estimates suggest the total project could land in the $5–6 million range, but that will be refined as planning continues. Importantly, this project is not intended to raise local taxes. The goal is to fund development through a combination of grants and private donations. 

We’re also looking ahead at sustainability, meaning how the building would be maintained and operated long-term through the utilization of an endowment fund, so that it remains an asset to the community without becoming a financial burden down the road.

Madisonian: How is this plan different from previous ideas and locations? What are the advantages of how it’s coming together now?

Degroot: The biggest difference is that this is no longer just an idea, it’s a coordinated, research-backed effort with real community partners at the table. In the past, there were concepts and conversations, but no formal needs assessment, no vetted site with infrastructure access, and no clear path forward.

Now, we have published research identifying the need, strong collaboration between the Lions Club, the School District, Madison County, and a dedicated nonprofit board, and a site that makes sense both logistically and financially.

Another key difference is that this process is intentionally community-driven. We’re hosting public community listening sessions at the Madison Valley Public Library on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m., Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m., and Feb.  21 at 10 a.m., along with an online survey for those who can’t attend in person. The purpose of those sessions is to hear directly from residents about what they want to see in a community center.

The current approach reflects lessons learned from earlier ideas by carefully evaluating location feasibility, infrastructure costs, long-term operations, and community benefit. Beyond day-to-day use, the center is also being planned as critical infrastructure for the community, capable of serving both everyday needs and emergency situations.

The plan is still flexible on purpose. The final design, programming, and scale will be shaped by community feedback and fundraising success. The ultimate goal is to build something the community actually supports and wants to use.

We understand that projects like this can raise questions, especially when school district property is involved. Transparency and trust are really important to us. This is why the land would be purchased at fair market value, why the School District retains full control over the subdivision and sale process, and why we’re actively seeking public input before major decisions are finalized. This project only moves forward if it makes sense for the broader community, and we’re committed to listening, sharing information openly, and adjusting course based on what we hear. 

More information is available at the non-profit’s new website which includes more info about the organization, the draft & site plan, and news & updates with a link to an online community input survey That website can be found at www.mvcommunitycenter.weebly.com.