Council backs staff work to protect $1.25M in state grants for Dorchester Community Center

Town staff told the La Plata Town Council on Feb. 10 that the Dorchester Community Center project originated in 2019 and grew from a 2022 community-driven design that envisioned about 14,933 square feet for youth and intergenerational programming. Staff said the town has secured three state capital grants totaling $1,250,000 but that the grants carry strict deadlines and use restrictions, including one grant that terminates if unexpended on June 1, 2027.

Town Manager Chuck Stevens said the original operating partner, the Dorchester Community Center Alliance, has effectively ceased operations and is no longer in good standing with the state, creating a change to the project’s original operating model. "These grants come with strict legislative deadlines and legally binding use restrictions that create urgency for council action," Stevens said.

Staff recommended a parallel approach: begin construction procurement while running a transparent, competitive operator-selection process. Stevens told the council that the $1.25 million in grant funding "may not cover the entire cost for essentially a 15,000 square foot facility with specialized spaces," and that staff does not yet have a detailed construction cost estimate or a final operating model. Council members debated whether to proceed without a confirmed operator, how to manage potential relocation or reuse of adjacent municipal facilities, and whether the project scope could be scaled down or repurposed to fit available funds.

After discussion, the mayor called for a consensus to direct staff to explore viable options, including a construction cost estimate, funding-gap analysis, operational cost projections for partnership scenarios, and operator evaluation criteria. The council recorded general assent and staff said they would return with more detailed information to a timeline that would respect the June 1 grant deadline where possible.