OneDenmark's dream becoming a reality

Throughout 2026, anyone passing through downtown Denmark has undoubtedly noticed a rapid transformation taking place at one of the community’s most well-known buildings. The soon-to-be Community First Credit Union Community Center is charging through its final phase of renovation before its grand opening next month as OneDenmark puts the finishing touches on their dream turned into reality. Last week, we visited the former school and met with OneDenmark Development Officer Kathy Pletcher to learn more about all that is in store.

Founded in 2019 by a group of concerned citizens seeking ways to help the greater Denmark community “connect, belong and thrive”, OneDenmark soon set their sights on establishing a community center to help accomplish their goal. When a successful school district referendum led to the shuttering of the former Early Childhood Center (ECC), OneDenmark began working tirelessly towards acquiring the property to serve as their envisioned community hub. In October 2024, the Denmark School Board officially granted OneDenmark the former school for $1 and planning for the soon-to-be community center ramped into high gear. One year later, in October of 2025, OneDenmark and their contracting partners officially broke ground on the extensive renovation which has continued ever since.

Ten months later, the former ECC is all but unrecognizable inside and out. Somerville Architects & Engineers from Green Bay has led the planning and design of the project while IEI General Contractors Inc. of De Pere has helmed the construction itself. Pletcher tells us, “IEI has been great to work with, Somerville has been great to work with. We have been extremely lucky to have great partners in this.”

OneDenmark has been proactively seeking funding for their vision throughout the planning and construction phases and have successfully accumulated a number of significant donations including $150,000 from the Denmark State Bank Foundation in 2023, $72,000 from Give BIG Green Bay in 2024, a $100,000 Brown County tourism grant and $150,000 from Community First Credit Union, giving the facility its name. OneDenmark’s biggest financial breakthrough came in 2025 when they were named as recipients of a $4,025,691 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Flexible Facilities Program, giving them an essential boost for the free-to-use portions of the building. When construction started last year, they tasked themselves to raise $1.5 million for the non-grant eligible portions of the center and, thanks to their hard work and the generosity of the greater Denmark community, they have accumulated $1.2 million of that goal.

When completed, the new community center will feature the return of the Denmark branch of the Brown County Library, spaces for socializing, meeting and working, youth and teen areas, access to technology and much more. The center will also be home to a state-of-the-art workout facility and gymnasium and will be the new home of both AOT Yoga and the Denmark Community Cupboard.

When we visited the building last Friday, the former school was almost impossible to place and the new, welcoming community center is evident. Besides the furniture and a couple finishing touches, the project seems to be all but complete with OneDenmark expecting to be granted full control of the facility from the contractors later this week. While we were visiting, the new fitness equipment was being delivered and installed with fresh pavement for the parking lot expected in the coming days. On our tour, Pletcher pointed out some of the exciting features to come including the Dufeck Community Room which will be adjacent to the library and will feature a variety of flexible seating and surface options as well as access to the building’s 30 laptops and 12 chromebooks. The facility’s “Commons” is a spacious room that will serve as a kind of lounge and community gathering space. A number of private rooms of various sizes are also available for small meetings or collaboration and can be reserved any time the center is open.

We asked Pletcher what allowed this project to progress so smoothly to which she answered simply, “The OneDenmark board is a great team.” She also credits the wealth of feedback they received from the community stating, “All the things you see in here came from community ideas and the grace of God!” She remarks, “The School Board sold us this building for $1. It is now valued at $7 million.”

To unveil their hard work and celebrate the new chapter the Community First Credit Union Community Center will bring, OneDenmark is planning a special celebration to welcome in the community and show them their new facility. On Wednesday, September 23, one and all are welcome to the new community center for the official Grand Opening Celebration. Following a ceremony and ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m., attendees will be able to complete a self-guided tour of the facility from 4 until 6. Snacks and refreshments will be served, there will be games for the kids and all will have the chance to learn more about and sign up for upcoming programs.

OneDenmark says they are still looking for donors to help them with the remainder of their goal and will soon be looking for part-time employees to help with the center’s operation. If interested in learning more, please visit onedenmark.org. As the Community First Credit Union Community Center nears its long-awaited opening, Pletcher tells us, “This building has served students for 100 years. Now, it’s being repurposed as a place to continue its educational mission for the next 100 years!”