KOOTENAI — Katie Begalke turned off her radio as she drove into work last Thursday and prayed.  

Community Resource EnVision Center’s executive director was about to present two years' worth of work at an event hosted by the Idaho Department of Commerce. Begalke knew that presenting in front of the state’s director of commerce and other influential people in the region would be the first test for her dream to create a community center based out of the old Coldwater Creek facility. 

“I didn't want to work on something that isn't wanted by the community or needed by the community. So, my whole prayer was like, if this isn't supposed to happen, have people shaking their heads at me or rolling their eyes,” Begalke said. “And the exact opposite happened.” 

Begalke as gave her presentation on The Hub, attendees asked questions and created real buzz about the future of her dream. The Hub is a project that would bring together numerous nonprofits and organizations throughout the region to raise $8 to 10 million and transform the underused facility into Bonner County’s community center.  

Community members and business owners will be able to hear more about the project from Begalke on Wednesday from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. at the CREC, 130 McGhee Road. Begalke said the open house will walk attendees through the idea behind the project and tour the facility. 

“I'm hoping people will see, at the open house, is that connectivity and the strength of a network,” Begalke said. “They can see portions of the campus, [like] the atrium where we'd love to open up a lunch program, the 220-person auditorium that's been sitting vacant and also the entire third floor that's just waiting for growth and partners.” 

Begalke said the idea for creating a community center has been with the organization ever since it moved into its current, over 10,000-square-foot space, in 2019. She said she realizes the massive undertaking that raising the $8 million to purchase the facility would be for the community.  

However, she said the project could be a solution to numerous issues plaguing the plentiful nonprofits in Bonner County, including infrastructure.  

“There's a lot of other capital campaigns that are going on across our community, which is a big part of why we see this being a solution,” Begalke said. “Instead of $8 million capital campaigns taking place in silos, what would it look like if we came together as a collective to do one that could house all of us?” 

Begalke said she hopes the center would become the heartbeat of the county where people can go to use the food bank, use a maker space or visit the senior center all in one place. As the building already exists, Begalke said it presents a unique opportunity for the community. 

“What I do see, though, is a thriving community center that is multi-generational and that is open to the public more than 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Begalke said. “We need a place for Bonner County to go when their life is ebbing and flowing.” 

When the building went up for sale in 2023, Begalke said the organization found an investment partner who submitted the highest bid for the building, but that the deal eventually fell through. Begalke has held onto the dream and said after that experience she wants any push to buy the building to come from the community.  

That’s part of the reason why, despite having the dream, Begalke still isn’t certain about how it will become reality. While conversations and developments continue behind the scenes, Begalke said that she isn’t holding onto one specific plan. 

“I would love for it to be a community asset owned by the community,” Begalke said. “The funds that are raised through rents can go strict like directly back into tenant improvements in the building, as well as perhaps our Bonner and Boundary Forever Fund, which would allow us to just pump financials into the philanthropic sector for generations to come.” 

The open house will be held from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 at the Community Resource EnVision Center.