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Wabash seeks $1.7 million OCRA grant to renovate Living Well center
Summary
City officials opened a public hearing on a $2 million Living Well renovation funded by a $1.7 million OCRA grant request plus a $300,000 local match (150,000 Living Well donations; 150,000 city general fund). The project focuses on interior upgrades to improve accessibility and energy efficiency.
The Common Council of the City of Wabash opened a public hearing on a proposed renovation of the Living Well facility, a county-serving center for older adults and people with disabilities. Alex Downer, representing the Imagine One 85 leadership group and the Community Foundation, said the project is part of the county’s Stellar Pathways designation and the first such county-wide project to move forward from that program.
Mike Kleinpeter, OCRA-certified grant administrator with Kleinpeter Consulting Group, told the council, “the city will be applying for a grant from OCRA in the amount of $1,700,000 and the city will be contributing a local match of 300,000.” He said the legal notice ran April 29 in the Wabash Plain Dealer, the second public hearing is May 26, the city will submit the application June 30 and awards will be made in July.
The project team described a roughly $2 million budget focused on interior renovations rather than an addition. Planned work includes HVAC replacement, new windows, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, roofing repairs, new flooring, reconfigured activity and kitchen spaces to support inclusive meal service, and more efficient office layouts. MKM Architecture provided the initial concept drawings and the project will follow the grant-required bidding process with an emphasis on local contractors.
Council and audience members pressed whether other communities would contribute to this specific project; staff replied that while donor support has been countywide, no other local governments are committing tax money to this Living Well project. Officials confirmed the facility currently sits on city-owned property and that the city would serve as the sponsor with Living Well as subrecipient — an arrangement the grant allows.
The council closed the hearing after public questions and will consider the application and any required local approvals as the project advances. The next required public hearing was announced for May 26.
