By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. — The Cherokee County Commission on Monday approved a resolution to apply for a federal grant for a community health and wellness center.
The application will seek $400,000 for the project, said Becky Voorhies, consultant with the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. The agency is preparing the grant application for the Family Life Center and will administer the grant if it is approved.
Scott Jackson, Family Life Center director, previously told the commissioners that the project didn’t receive funding during a first round of grant awards.
No county money will be used for the project, Voorhies said.
The total project cost is $2.2 million. The project has $795,754 from donations. An additional $185,000 donation was expected.
A total of $615,000 in funding from foundations is contingent upon approval of the Community Development Block Grant.
Voorhies said a 19,000-square-foot fitness center is proposed on the property of Family Life Center in Riverton.
Jackson said the center is to include a gymnasium, a walking track, an exercise and training room with treadmills and resistance equipment, a storm shelter, and an exercise classroom for yoga instruction. An after-school program, and dance and aerobic classes would be offered.
The grant application deadline is June 24, and Voorhies said grant awards should be announced by July 24. After grants are awarded, grant recipients have two years to complete the projects.
Nonprofit center
The Family Life Center is a nonprofit organization designed to provide professional behavioral health-care services to individuals and families in Cherokee County.
