Oswego senior center asks village for $60,000 as it pursues $2.5M in state grants

Michelle, executive director of the Oswego Senior & Community Center, updated trustees on Oct. 7 and asked the village for increased operating support as the center expands services.

Michelle said the center serves thousands of visits annually (she cited unduplicated and duplicated participation metrics), runs programs ranging from fitness and health screening to long trips, and operates with three full-time and three part-time staff plus volunteers. She described annual revenue sources that together total roughly $470,000, including individual donations, membership income, trip fees, grants from township and county sources, and foundation support.

"We are getting our funding for our elevator and our renovations. ... We're getting 2 and a half million dollars from state grants," Michelle said, naming state legislators the center thanked for support. She said the paperwork is in process, the center hopes to bid in spring and start work next season, and that the center aims to raise roughly $800,000 to pay down a building mortgage.

On operating support, Michelle requested $60,000 from the village for the coming year (up from $50,000 last year). Trustees and finance staff said they will review the request at the Oct. 25 budget workshop and that recent sales-tax returns improved the village's outlook. No funding decision was made at the meeting.

Why it matters: The senior center provides programming and social opportunities that trustees described as key anti-isolation services for older residents. The capital request—an elevator and renovations funded primarily through grants—would change building accessibility and capacity, while the operating request affects the near-term budget.

What’s next: Staff will include the center’s request in budget-workshop materials on Oct. 25 for further consideration.