5 things to know about efforts to keep Centre County’s only rock climbing gym open

Centre County’s only dedicated climbing gym announced last week it will close May 31 due to unsustainable lease costs.

Emphasizing the importance of what’s described by many as a “second family,” climbers and community members sprang to action. They are now scrambling to raise $1.9 million by the end of the month to keep it open.

FULL STORY: $1.9M quickly needed to save Climb Nittany. Those who call it a ‘second family’ have hope

Here are key takeaways:

• Climb Nittany’s financial troubles started during 2019 construction, when pandemic-related delays pushed costs about $1 million over budget. The landlord, Store Master Funding XIV LLC, set a lease rate reflecting those costs and has refused to renegotiate, according to CEO Mardi Roberts.
• Another business has offered $1.9 million to buy the property by July and convert it from a climbing gym, Roberts said. To stay open, supporters must match that offer by the end of May.
• More than 75 local potential investors have already pledged between $1 million and $1.7 million, fundraising leader Eric Chase said. Four options are being explored, including an angel investor, medium-sized investors forming a board, a broad community pledge drive or a local organization taking ownership.
• The next closest dedicated climbing gym is Boulders and Bubbles in Northumberland County, more than an hour away. Hazel Pollock, 13, qualified for USA Climbing’s Youth National Championships in June and does most of her training at Climb Nittany.
• Supporters can email saveclimbnittany@gmail.com or follow the gym’s Instagram page for updates. A town hall Sunday drew more than 100 people and included discussion of forming a nonprofit to support underserved families.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.