Receives record amount from Lokalbankfondet

Gunnar Engebu from Søgne FK together with managing bank manager Vidar Skaaland and Lene Apland, head of business development, ICT and Markets in Søgne and Greipstad savebank.

Photo: Jon Aamodt

Søgne FK is in the process of carrying out plans to build a football hall next to the Toyota pitch in Tangvall. In this connection, the club has applied for support through Søgne and Greipstad Sparebank’s Lokalbankfond. On Friday, the club was informed that the bank is providing NOK 1.3 million for the project.

According to deputy chairman of the club, Gunnar Engebu, it will be the largest amount given in support of any project in the fund’s history.

– We are more than happy and honored by this. The fantastic collaboration with the bank just continues and means that the club gets a smaller burden with loan costs for the new hall, which a unanimous annual meeting agreed on on 12 March, he says to N247.

– We are betting that work on the new hall can start soon after the summer. The process with the municipality for the necessary permits is already underway, says Engebu.

NOK 30 million

The project has a cost frame of around NOK 30 million.

The hall is being built according to a model similar to Birkelandshallen and is made of plastic. A solution that has significantly lower construction costs than a steel hall. A 9′ pitch of 4,500 square meters and 50 by 70 meters is planned. The hall will not have changing rooms, but will be heated.

Managing bank manager in Søgne and Greipstad savings bank, Vidar Skaaland adds that the funds from the Lokalbankfondet are paid out when “the spade is put in the ground” and thus confirms that the hall will be realised.

Annual gift distribution

Head of business development, ICT and Markets, Lene Apland explains that the local bank fund conducts an annual gift distribution to underpin positive work among teams and associations in Søgne and Greipstad.

Project support is given to planned projects with a separate budget and progress plan, usually on the side of the team’s ongoing operations. Depending on the project’s size and scope, the degree of public benefit and the number of applicants/available funds, the support will normally be between NOK. 10,000 and NOK. 200,000.

– This is a project the bank is cheering for, and the Lokalbankfondet will contribute a significant sum to the project. The large degree of volunteering and the fact that Søgne FK is a major player in sports and volunteering in the village are elements that help to strengthen that we, who are also the general sponsor of the club, confirm a long and good collaboration through this award, says Skaaland.

– Everything is now in order for us to start building the football hall and we are exceptionally well satisfied with the support we receive from our local bank, says Engebu in conclusion.