Rob Myers creates $5M foundation to help support new library, museum

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Local entrepreneur Rob Myers put up $5 million to establish the Myers Family Foundation to benefit a new library and museum proposed to be located in a new community hub in downtown Chatham.

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“I’ve recently set up a family foundation with an initial $5 million dollars invested with all of the foundation interest proceeds being pledged to the new library at its new location as well as the new CK museum that will finally become a major asset to our city,” said Myers.

“These two important public facilities will enrich the lives for both our youth and all of the citizens of CK.”

Myers, who has invested heavily in Chatham’s downtown, is co-owner of the Downtown Chatham Centre, which is located beside where a proposed $53 million new community hub, that will include a new city hall, library and museum, would be located in the former Sears building. The municipality purchased the former Sears building from the DCC.

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Noting it will take a year to build up some interest, Meyers hopes between six to 10 per cent interest can be earned by the foundation.

“As an example, if it earns 10 per cent (interest) that’s $500,000 a year,” he said.

The earnings will be split between the library and museum.

After spending some time at the Chatham library in recent months, Myers said, “I though this city could use a more modern new library.”

The new library and museum projects will serve as pillars of cultural, educational, and community development, he said.

The library will offer expanded services, enhanced technology access, and dedicated youth spaces, while the CK Museum will serve as a premier destination for heritage preservation, public exhibits, and educational programming.

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Myers plans to let the operators of the museum and library to decide how to use the funds.

“There are capable people that will be running the museum and library, so they know best.”

A decision is expected soon on moving forward with the community hub project with numbers on costing released on Wednesday.

“I’m very excited about Rob Myers offering such an incredibly generous financial commitment to support a new community hub,” Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said.

Canniff expects Myers’ commitment will lead the way to other businesses and individuals to “step up and be part of this exciting new project in Chatham-Kent.”

Myers said once construction is underway on the community hub project, he plans to do some fundraising for major upgrades to Tecumseh Park and the Kiwanis Bandshell.

“Once there’s a few hundred (municipal) employees working downtown daily, I’ll do up the park up nice so they’ve got a place to have lunch and spend some quality time,” Myers said.

“Our city deserves this.”

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