Southwick House has gained another layer of community support for its plans to construct a new 9,000-square-foot transitional housing facility.
The latest layer came from the Lyon County Commission Thursday morning as commissioners approved a series of resolutions to act as a passthrough for CDBG funding to support the project. According to Governmental Assitance Services Grant Administrator Brett Waggoner, the county, and by extension Southwick, will be seeking $800,000 in funding which is the maximum amount allowed for communities the size of Emporia.
Waggoner, who was in attendance for Thursday’s meeting, says if the grant is approved the county will have no financial liability, however, it will have certain regulations and requirements it must meet and follow.
The reason for the county acting as a passthrough for the funding is the fact that CDBG dollars are available only to city and county governmental entities. City and county leadership are only allowed to act as a passthrough once per year according to Waggoner and KVOE later spoke with Lyon County Commission Chairman Rollie Martin to ask what made Southwick the ideal choice for this action.
Martin responded by saying it is the perfect project to support as the new facility will help improve the quality of life for so many within the county which is the main charge of the Lyon County Commission.
Waggoner says it could be early February before they hear back on whether or not the project has been awarded the grant. His response:
The county’s support comes as Southwick is already over 30 percent towards its capital campaign goal of more than $3 million to support construction of the facility at 115 East Logan. Southwick House Executive Director Susan Brinkman has stated she has ambitious goals for both the campaign and facility with hopes of reaching the 80 percent fundraising mark by early March and having the facility open by the fourth quarter of 2025.
In other business Thursday, commissioners also approved a vacation of a portion of County Road 320 west of Road L following a public hearing. Separately, commissioners lent approval to a bid from Mitchell Markowitz Construction for jail plumbing fixtures totaling more than $636,000 as well as a purchase request for a 2023 Chevy Colorado from D&T Auto for the Lyon County Appraiser’s office totaling more than $24,900.
Commissioners will reconvene for their regular action meeting next Thursday at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
