Warren County Handicapped Services is appealing to business owners and community members to help support a new facility for people with developmental disabilities.

The construction cost for the 4,900-square-foot facility on Dry Fork Road is estimated at just over $1 million, said Kelli Clodfelter, executive director of Handicapped Services. The facility will greatly expand how many clients can be served each day, which Clodfelter said has been a challenge during COVID-19.

To help pay for the project, Handicapped Services has been approved to sell $461,000 in state tax credits. Business owners who purchase the tax credits can get 70 percent of that cost deducted from future taxes, Clodfelter said. However, she said reaching out to businesses to ask for their support has been difficult during the pandemic.

Another $500,000 for the project is being supplied by a state community development block grant (CDBG).

“CDBG requires all funding to be in place before we can break ground,” Clodfelter said. “We’re working with the bank now to secure a loan for whatever we need to break ground.”

She explained that selling tax credits will allow Handicapped Services to repay that bank loan.

The organization plans to break ground on the facility in September, Clodfelter said.

Warren County Handicapped Services provides daily enrichment activities for clients with developmental disabilities to help them practice fine motor functions, communication and life skills, along with doing things that are fun and creative. The organization also manages several group homes for clients, as well as providing transportation and other assistance with at-home or job-related needs of clients.

“The services that we provide here are not provided anywhere in Warren County,” with the exception of several Emmaus homes, Clodfelter said.

Handicapped Services’ new facility, at the corner of Dry Fork Road and Highway 47 in Warrenton, will expand the nonprofit’s daily program capacity from 26 clients to 60.

The need for a larger facility has never been clearer than during COVID-19. The nonprofit’s current facility on First Street is so small that clients can’t be hosted there while maintaining social distancing, said Day Program Director Angie Scott. Clients are instead being brought to the Warrenton Elks Lodge.

Client Brandon Busdiecker, 22, said he loves all the daily activities he can do thanks to Handicapped Services, and is excited about having a bigger space. He said he enjoys getting to work with his hands.

“I use tools to fix stuff. I love to fix stuff,” Busdiecker said.

Client Troy Gladden, 27, said he comes to Handicapped Services every day, and enjoys painting there and socializing. He also gets to practice cooking and helps with gardening.

Clodfelter added that the clients have been asking when they can visit their new building almost every day since it was announced.