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60 Forward center reports growing use; Heartland says adult day services demand has outpaced county ARPA allocation
Summary
The 60 Forward center, funded in part with ARPA dollars, opened Sept. 30, 2024; Heartland told supervisors the center hosts fitness classes, a bistro and adult day services that have reached capacity and exhausted Story County FY24 funds of $111,446.
A Heartland representative told the Story County Board of Supervisors on April 1, 2025, that the 60 Forward center opened on Sept. 30, 2024, and has become a regularly used site for fitness classes, technology help, senior clinics and an adult day program that has strained available funding.
"The 60 Forward center opened September thirtieth of 2024. So we have been officially opened a little over 6 months now," the Heartland representative said. The speaker described weekly offerings that include about 15 fitness classes provided by Ames Parks and Recreation, partner-provided dementia-prevention programs from Mary Greeley, a technology drop-in staffed by Ames High School students, and a bistro whose hours were adjusted in March 2025 to 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday through Friday based on point-of-service data showing peak customer counts from about 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The presenter said roughly 300 people are signed up for the strength-and-cardio room that includes eight pieces of advanced "e-gym" equipment and additional conventional machines. Foot-traffic counts at the main entrance vary by weather and season; the representative reported roughly 225–250 people on warmer days and lower counts on colder days.
Heartland also gave an annual funding update. The county’s allocation to Heartland for fiscal year 2024 was $111,446, which the presenter said was fully expended. The fiscal-year-2025 allocation is $119,299 and about 30% of that funding had been used at the time of the report. The presenter said adult day services—focused primarily on individuals with dementia or Parkinson’s-related conditions—had been the highest-demand service and that Heartland had increased staffing to expand daily census from 12 at the prior site to 18 and planned to increase to 24; facility capacity allows up to 40 daily participants but staffing additions are required to expand safely under the program license.
The representative said Heartland is examining a north vestibule to allow year-round use of a north patio and better access to leased parking off a nearby retail lot. Heartland also described partnerships with RSVP and Bethany at Home as on-site tenants and said it coordinates countywide outreach for nutrition programs, Meals on Wheels deliveries and adult day referrals.
Supervisors asked whether Heartland is serving residents outside Ames; the presenter said the center serves Story County residents and that outreach is increasing in Huxley and Slater. No formal county action was requested at the meeting; supervisors thanked staff for the update.
Heartland materials included service counts, usage data and website information (60forward.org) the agency said residents can use to check program schedules and register.
