By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

RIVERTON, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Commerce has approved a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant for a health and wellness center in Riverton.

The health center is a project of the Family Life Center.

Cherokee County applied for the grant on behalf of the Family Life Center, but no county money will be used.

The second time was the charm for the agency. A previous application didn’t receive funding. The Cherokee County Commission agreed to apply for a second round after a consultant with the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission told commissioners that federal stimulus money was available.

“This is great news,” said Melissa Cromwell, development director for the Family Life Center. “With the stimulus money, we were able to apply (for) and receive the grant.”

The total cost for the project is $2.2 million. The project also has received $795,754 from donations. Additional funding from private foundations is contingent upon approval of the Community Development Block Grant.

Cromwell said that with the grant award, the Family Life Center will now submit applications for funding to the foundations. She said she’s hoping foundation funding could be in place by the end of the year.

“We’re finalizing floor plans this week,” Cromwell said. “We’re hoping we can break ground next spring.”

The center will include a gymnasium, walking track, an exercise and training room with treadmills and resistance equipment, a storm shelter and an exercise classroom for yoga instruction. Dance and aerobic classes and an after-school program for children also will be offered.

The center will be built where the Family Life Center building now is located.

“We’re really excited about this,” Cromwell said.