Rental rates have been set for the new St. Charles Parish community center that allow the $10.5 million facility to be used by the public for wedding receptions, concerts and meeting space.
The rates start at $50 for the smallest meeting room at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center and go as high as $3,000 to rent out the gymnasium all day.
The smallest meeting room is 470 square feet and groups needing even more space can rent out the two largest meeting rooms, which encompass 1,585 square feet, for $160. There are several different meeting room combinations at various prices to fit any budget.
All rentals rates, with the exception of the eight hour all day gym rate, are for a minimum of four hours. Renting out the gym for four hours will cost $1,650.
“Some people do three (hours), but we felt that three was not enough, especially for someone who might want to have a wedding reception. They generally use four hours,” Erica Mire, the community center coordinator, said.
Other items that can be borrowed by the public for events at the facility include $50 for a projector and screen, $50 for a podium with a microphone and $20 for a flat screen TV.
Police officers are also available to provide security for $35 an hour while an audio technician for the gym is provided with a $50 payment.
“The overall goal, basically, is to have an affordable and accessible facility that will enable us to maximize the utilization of our new center,” Mire said.
In addition to meetings, parties and small concerts, the parish also hopes to draw job fairs, craft fairs and athletic tournaments to the community center.
The parking lot may also be rented out for car shows.
The building, which includes 13,900 square feet of gym space and 2,100 square feet of meeting room space, will also be utilized as a shelter for certain emergency events and post-disaster recovery efforts. Its capacity is 1,700 people, which will allow the center to be used for assisted evacuations. Previously, assisted evacuations took place outside.
While the facility cost $10.5 million to construct, 71 percent of the building ($7.95 million) was funded through state and federal grants.
The parish’s Recreation Department and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program will be housed in the community center and the Community Services Department will operate a satellite office out of the building.
To find out more information about renting the community center, contact Mire at (985) 331-3021.
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