County approved for $500,000 grant to build new senior citizens center

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 1:30 p.m. — County government’s request for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for a new senior citizens center has been approved. During an appearance on WBRT’s “Brooks & Company” radio show, state Sen. Jimmy Higdon said the county’s grant request had been given a green light.

The funding will go to help pay for a new senior center that will be housed  in renovated space  in the strip mall located near the Nelson County Justice Center.

Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts confirmed he had received word of the approval recently in a letter of commitment from the Department of Local Government. Watts said he expected Gov. Steve Beshear’s office will issue a press release on the award. “I anticipate the Governor will come down for a check presentation as well,” Watts said.

The new senior center will be fill approximately 6,000-square-feet of the old Plaza shopping center strip mall. The cost of the center is about $800,000, and is expected to take about six months to complete.

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