TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 9, 2009 – The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board of Directors has granted Warren AME Church Vision Empowerment Board $35,000 for predevelopment costs for an 11,300 sq. ft. Senior Services Center housing the J. Frank Troy Senior Center and the Warren Adult Day Center. The award comes from the Port Authority Community Economic Development Initiative grant and loan program.

The grant funds will be used for predevelopment costs including engineering, architectural and environmental services. The construction phase of the Senior Services Center will create 50 to 100 construction jobs and the operations of the completed center will create 15 to 20 fulltime equivalent jobs. The Senior Services Center plans to serve up to 150 Lucas County senior citizens each day. The project is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2010 and the total project cost is close to $1.2 million. The overarching goal of the Senior Services Center is to allow seniors to “age in place” in their homes or the homes of family members, thereby avoiding the cost and trauma of long-term care.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Community Economic Development Initiative funding comes from tax levy dollars. This grant and loan program is designed to assist community based organizations in creating new or revitalizing existing commercial structures that will attract or retain businesses in Lucas County and facilitate new employment opportunities. Grants and loans are awarded to economic development projects undertaken by eligible, neighborhood-based organizations. Grant or loan recipients must be 501(c) 3 organization in good standing and must demonstrate the capacity to manage funds and develop real estate and must operate within Lucas County. The Community Economic Development Initiative grant and loan program is currently accepting applications. Applications and additional information are available at www.toledoportauthority.org.

“This project is ideal for the Community Economic Development Initiative as it not only meets the needs of the community but also creates economic opportunities and, most importantly, jobs, “says Laurie M. Cantrell, Loan Program Manager for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. 

“We thank the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority for this predevelopment grant and for their commitment to help revitalize the Collingwood and Dorr Street area.” says Reverend Dr. Otis Gordon, Chairman of Warren AME. Church Vision Empowerment Board.

The grant recipient, The Warren AME Church Vision Empowerment Board will develop the Senior Services Center which will be constructed on vacant property owned by the Warren AME Church, located at Indiana and City Park in Toledo, Ohio. 

The Senior Services Center will house two separate but collaborative programs, a senior center, called The J. Frank Troy Senior Center and an adult day center called The Warren Adult Day Center. The J. Frank Troy Senior Center, which will be relocated from its current site a short distance from the new Senior Services Center, will continue to provide the same range of recreational, social, and community services that it now provides, but in an expanded and improved space. The Warren Adult Day Center will provide the full range of supportive and care services typical of an adult day center, including monitoring of health conditions and needs, daily exercise, discussions of current events, arts and crafts, recreation, transportation, and meals. The Senior Services Center also will contract with the Lucas County Senior Nutrition Program to serve as a Title II Nutrition Site.

Attachments
Otis Gordon
Paul Toth & Otis Gordon Check presentation
Paul Toth & Otis Gordon Check presentation
Group Check presentation