Hub on Smith Seeks $3.5M in ARPA Funds for Construction Projects | Local News

The expansion project has been underway for several years and the first phase has involved renovating the former administrative space in The Hub building for use by the Help at Home program and improving the Hub’s Brooks Street car park , said Sopko.

The second phase, expected to cost $5.5 million and partially funded by the grant, will add a second floor to the existing Hub building. As part of the expansion, the Hub’s administrative employees, who are currently housed on the second floor of the KidsLife building, could return to work on site, Sopko said.

“Ideally, we’d like all of our staff to be in one place, and all of that will happen in phase two,” Sopko said.

The second phase of the expansion will also involve creating additional space for the lending closet and home-delivered meal programs, Sopko said.

“Both programs have grown tremendously, and we just don’t have space for them to grow right now,” Sopko said. “The loan cupboard is hosted in several locations and our number of meals delivered to homes has also increased, with COVID (-19) being a major factor in this. The expansion will also give us more space for our Help Center, which currently shares space with Help at Home. »

The remaining $2.5 million of the proposed $5.5 million second phase will be raised by The Hub, Sopko said.

“I know people are tired of capital projects and the fundraising that comes with them,” Sopko said. “But our building is one that offers so many things to so many people – from meals and exercise to entertainment and a place to meet. It is important that we continue to update this building and make it a place where people want to come. We want to keep adapting and being better for our customers.

Sopko said she hopes to find out if The Hub has received the grant in the coming months. If funds are received, The Hub will proceed with construction as soon as possible, with the aim of completing the second phase within the next two years.

Sopko said the Hub’s board continues to research and discuss other funding options for the project, in the event the grant fails.

In addition to the $3 million request, The Hub also submitted another $500,000 ARPA Health and Human Services Capital Improvements grant application through the Wyoming Department of Health. The grant would help fund improvements to the building’s roof, Sopko said.

“The one we have now is quite old, and I don’t know if we’ve ever replaced the roof since we got this building,” Sopko said. “With the other renovations and upgrades underway, we felt it was time to replace the entire roof. It can be very leaky in wet seasons. building, but we know it’s something we need to fix as soon as possible.

At a special meeting on August 8, Sheridan City Council voted unanimously to send letters of support for Hub grant applications. The building and parking areas where The Hub is located are owned by the City of Sheridan. The city currently leases the facilities from The Hub for $1 per year for an indefinite term.

“The Hub on Smith, while primarily focused on seniors, also provides many opportunities for other members of the community,” Mayor Rich Bridger wrote in the letter. “These services enrich the senior experience by creating more opportunities for interaction to build cross-generational connections…The Town of Sheridan fully supports The Hub on Smith in seeking external funding to support its mission and its programs.”