After several years of planning, fundraising and thousands of hours of volunteer work from a lot of people in Clinton and surrounding counties, the Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center officially opened its doors on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

Bro. Bobby Grant, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said he is excited about being able to provide this facility to the community.

“It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another,” Grant said. “I’m thrilled that we have it completed and that we have such of a facility that we do now. That in itself is a great reward.”

Over the past several weeks, the doors to the Wellness Center have been opened to anybody and everybody who wanted to take a first hand look. Grant said having the open house has been successful.

“We’ve had close to 600 people come through and I’ve not heard one negative thing. All I’ve heard is postitive things about us being able to have a facility like this,” Grant said. “I have a great big appreciative heart for everyone who has had a part in making this come to pass. I could never speak enough well words about the board, the judges, and the mayor, I’ve worked with in this. I couldn’t have asked for a group of people with a better rapport about wanting to see this come to pass.”

Getting all the plans together, applying for the grants, filling out the paper work, and searching for volunteers is now over for the board of directors. Grant said now that the building is complete and an opening date has been scheduled, maintaining the facility and gathering memberships is next on the list.

“That part of our job is over,” Grant said. “This is where the next job steps in. I’ve had a lot of promises and a lot of companies have fulfilled their promises. Keystone Foods has led the way in giving ever since we started.”

Grant said he is thankful that the buying is now paid for and debt free, but the next challenge he will face will be keeping up with the facility on a monthly basis.

“The biggest hurdle we will face now is keeping up with our utilities, funding for programs, employee funding, which most of our employees will be part time, but the quicker we grow our membership, the more we will be able to do and the more we will be able to sustain ourselves.”

Keeping and maintaining a budget thoughout the course of the year will be a difficult feat to overcome, but Grant believes the people of Clinton and surrounding counties will support what he and his board of directors are trying to accomplish.

“It’s going to take a pretty good budget to sustain this place, but I think that the people who have walked through have already proven the fact that we are fortuante to have this and we want to keep it for many, many years,” Grant said.

Grant believes the rates for membership are competitive and he feels more can be done with a membership here than other places people would have to travel to.

“I’ve had people to tell me that they travel to other places to work out, not to do everything you can do here, and pay more for that, than they would for a whole month membership here for a family. I want people to realize that this is just start up time and we have to get adjusted to that. All of our office equipment hasn’t come in, our janitorial supplies … we were hoping all of that would be in, but it’s not going to, so we will adapt and we will work with what we have.”

With the finalization of one project coming to a close, Grant is looking toward the future of the Wellness Center and he hopes that they will out grow this facility.

“This facility, I’m hoping, will get to the point to where we are not able to take care of everyone,” Grant said. “Our next major project, after this one, if the people of Clinton County and surrounding counties support this, our next major move will be a gym and an indoor walking track. That’s what we are looking at toward the future.”

If you have an application ready to turn in, you can drop it off to Lisa Beard-State Farm Insurance or mail it to Twin Lakes Family Wellness Center, P.O. Box 712, Albany, Kentucky 42602. For more information call 606-387-9622.

Hours of Operation, March 16 through May 16 (hours will expand as the number of memberships increase): Facility Hours: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; Monday, 3-9 p.m.; Tuesday, 5-10 a.m.; Wednesday, 3-9 p.m.; Thursday, 5-10 a.m.; Friday, 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

“I want to get healthier, I want this county to get healthier and we have the tools to do it,” Grant said. “People don’t have to go out of town. We have our own top notch fitness center right here in our own back door.”