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Hope Unlimited says HUD award and site selected for new shelter; asks county to start support at groundbreaking
Summary
Hope Unlimited updated commissioners on an 8-acre site for a new shelter, a HUD award that will be reimbursed in installments and remaining funding gaps; the nonprofit requested the county's previously budgeted $40,000 (over three years) to begin at groundbreaking.
Dorothy Sparks of Hope Unlimited updated Neosho County commissioners on plans for a new shelter at a selected eight-acre parcel and on the status of federal environmental reviews required by the HUD Home Investment Partnership award the nonprofit received.
Sparks said the project team has an architect (Hough Architects) and a contractor (Crossland Construction) under consideration and hopes to begin construction this fall; earlier goals for a spring start have been delayed by required HUD environmental review procedures. She told commissioners the HUD award is reimbursable and will be distributed in installments after the grantee submits progress reports and invoices; the organization expects to submit environmental documents for public comment during the notice period.
The planned facility will include a shelter building, playground, and an on-site animal kennel to accommodate residents with pets. Sparks said the nonprofit would like to include an on-site daycare program eventually. She said the award leaves Hope Unlimited about 80% funded once federal funds begin flowing, and that the group will scale some nonessential items if necessary to stay within the confirmed funding.
Sparks asked commissioners to consider the county's previously budgeted support — the county has reserved $40,000 spread over three years in prior budgets but has not disbursed it. Commissioners indicated the county would release the pledged funds when project milestones have been met, such as a formal groundbreaking or confirmation that required federal steps are complete.
Ending: Hope Unlimited will forward schematic plans to the county and an official funding request once milestones are met; the nonprofit will notify commissioners when HUD reimbursement becomes available and when a groundbreaking date is set.
