Two local projects promise hundreds of jobs; New Era to seek license for youth residential treatment
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Summary
Council heard presentations on the New Era residential treatment center and Proballis facility renovation. New Era plans to apply for a state license and aims to hire locally; Proballis renovation was finalized with EDC support and city-staff reported the siren project and parking challenges.
City staff presented two economic-development updates on Jan. 5 that they said could create several hundred local jobs.
New Era (the former state school campus) is being repurposed as a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. Presenters identified the owners and described a phased plan: staff said they expect to apply to the state for a residential-treatment license near the end of the month, initially admit boys (ages cited in discussion as roughly 8–17), and emphasize vocational training, local medical partnerships and local hiring. Presenters described an initial facility population planning figure of roughly 175 beds and said they hope to hire locally for youth-care and support positions; one presenter said the project could require ‘‘roughly 300’’ hires when fully scaled and that the state will control the pace of admissions.
On the renovation front, staff updated council on the Proballis (Provallis) site work. Contractors removed old finishes, installed new HVAC and drainage, and completed exterior landscaping paid for by the operator. Staff said council previously approved $550,000 from EDC funds to finalize the facility (including a generator) and that, with outstanding costs, the project was approximately $30,000 under budget. The facility currently lists about 166 seats and roughly 70–72 on-site employees, with additional hiring expected. Staff noted a future parking constraint if the site reaches full staffing; the city plans to explore creative parking solutions.
Staff also reported the completion of a $538,000 warning-siren project funded in part by a grant match from Communities Unlimited; six 50-foot poles with voice-capable, battery-backed sirens now overlap town coverage. Council members thanked staff and the presenters and discussed job-fair logistics and local hiring requirements (presenters said hires require a high-school diploma and no disqualifying criminal history for direct-care positions).