The Monifieth public will be urged to help with the final push to get a £1m community centre dream over the line.
The 11-year ambition took a huge step forward in November when permission was granted by Angus development standards committee councillors.
The proposed centre, which would be situated on Riverview Drive, is being driven forward by the Monifieth Community Resource Group and chairwoman Jean Lee.
The Robertson Trust, a wholly Scottish funder, has now awarded £108,000 towards the capital costs bringing the amount raised so far tomore than £750,000.
Mrs Lee said bridging the gap of £250,000 within 2020 is achievable and various crowdfunding and donation options will soon be available when a new website goes live.
Mrs Lee said: “The last couple of months have been nerve wracking but hugely successful for us.
“This recent award from the Robertson Trust is a massive boost to the project.
“Our award was the largest in its category across Scotland and it shows real confidence in our project and team as well as bringing us nearer our target of just over £1m. The gap of £250,000 is very doable.
“We’re still chasing funds from other trusts and funders, and we’ll soon have a live website that will have options for crowdfunding and donations, so we’re optimistic about our timescales.
“We plan to open the centre in 2021, so 2020 is going to see a lot of energy from the people of Monifieth put into raising money and making it happen.
“Now that the dream is becoming a reality we know that everyone will do their bit to help.
“This past year has been pretty full on for our wee team, but 2020 will be the year that the whole of Monifieth gets involved and I’m sure there will be a lot of fun for everyone too.”
The project would see the creation of a centre containing community space, a fitness suite, café, Changing Places toilet and potential for cinema screenings.
Supporters say the hub, beside the Blue Seaway playpark, will be a valuable asset to a community frequently tagged the “forgotten burgh” over its lack of local facilities.
The new centre could be open in 2021 if the final funding push is successful.
The campaign looked to be dead in the water just under a year ago when a £1 million bid for Big Lottery funding to convert Angus Council’s Invertay House was knocked back.
The campaigners took a while to recover from the initial setback before revising their plans with a “cost effective, innovative design”.
