Published: July 25, 2008 11:52 am      

With new HRDC building moving forward, Appalachian Regional Commission's $250,000 grant is 'terrific news'

CUMBERLAND - A $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will serve as part of a "$4,730,000 funding matrix" for the new Allegany County Human Resources and Development Commission building on Virginia Avenue.

Courtney Thomas, HRDC executive director, said the agency has known for several weeks that the funding was forthcoming but official notification was not received until Thursday.

"This is terrific news," said Thomas, who said the funding matrix includes federal, state, county, local and capital campaign money.

"We are still looking to raise about a million dollars from the community for this project through our capital campaign.

"We are also looking at private foundations that offer money for construction projects. We are looking to raise money in a variety of ways but we are moving forward with the project," she said.

Thomas said some properties on Springdale Street have been "acquired and cleared" to make way for the new HRDC headquarters building. The building will house the Cumberland Community Center that will replace the existing Senior Citizens Center now located at its Frederick Street facility.

Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin announced the ARC grant to construct the new 20,000 square-foot facility, which will consolidate a host of support services scattered throughout the county, and serve an estimated 7,000 county residents living below the poverty line.

"We need to support programs like these that help those who help themselves. This ARC funding will help create opportunities for Cumberland residents, while building and protect its communities," said Mikulski.

"This ARC grant will provide assistance to the residents of Cumberland who are in the greatest need," said Cardin. "The new community center will provide seniors and low-income individuals with additional resources and help revitalize a downtown neighborhood that has been struggling."

In addition to providing comprehensive support services, the construction of the new community center will spark economic revitalization in the distressed Virginia Avenue corridor.

HRDC will bring 45 new employees and its client base to the neighborhood, which, in turn, could increase demand for new retail and business services in the area.

This is the second grant ARC has awarded for the project. Last year, ARC provided $300,000 in funding. The ARC is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.

Rycon Construction of Pittsburgh was notified recently that its $5.135 million bid to construct the new building would be forwarded to the Maryland Board of Public Works for approval.

Construction is scheduled to begin following state approval with a December 2009 target date for opening the facility.