FRANKFORT, KY (May 21, 2008) –  Gov. Steve Beshear, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office for Local Development (GOLD), has announced the approval of a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the construction of a new Trigg County Senior Citizen Center.    

This grant, along with other state and local funds, will cover costs associated with the design and construction of a new 5,000 sq ft center and the purchase of 2 acres of land.  An additional adjacent 3 acres have been privately donated to the county for the site. 

The proposed facility will be fully handicap accessible and contain meeting rooms, a large activities room, kitchen and offices.  It will also allow space for future expansion to continue to meet the growing senior population in Trigg County.  Preliminary design is complete for the structure that will be located in the city of Cadiz.  

According to Trigg County Judge/Executive Stanley Humphries, the current senior citizen center lacks the space to adequately provide activities and services to its patrons.  Even with past renovations, the windows, floors and elevator system are all extremely old and deteriorating.  It is also in a dangerous, elevated area that is not easily accessible.  If a senior is unable to climb the steep hill to the entrance, they must be dropped off at the front door of the facility which is in a congested, high traffic area. 

Kentucky’s U. S. Congressional leaders’ continued support of the CDBG program has made the funding available nationally as well as within the commonwealth.  The state’s CDBG program is managed by GOLD and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Approved grants are used to assist counties and cities in revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing and economic opportunities, providing infrastructure and/or improving community facilities and services.