Warren County Handicapped Services is receiving a $500,000 grant to help build a brand-new facility  to provide services for people with developmental disabilities.

Handicapped Services currently operates out of a former home at 703 First St. in Warrenton, providing skill building, recreation and personal services. Executive Director Kelli Clodfelter said the building is too small to fill the need for local residents with disabilities.

“We are maxed out, as far as how many people you can have in our square footage,” said Clodfelter. “Within our day program right now we’re at 25 (people), with five on the waiting list.”

She said the facility also falls short of some Americans With Disabilities Act standards.

A recently awarded community development block grant for $500,000 will help construct a new 4,900-square-foot Handicapped Services facility at the corner of South Highway 47 and Dry Fork Road. Clodfelter expects the new space will allow her agency to expand its daily services to include around 65 people.

Starting several years ago, Clodfelter said the agency began looking for a building to renovate as a new facility. However, it soon became apparent that the more cost-effective choice would be new construction.

The new building will provide a space where staff can more effectively help clients learn the skills of personal care and work readiness, Clodfelter said. It will also improve their ability to provide engaging and educational activities.

“We get just as blessed as (clients) do,” Clodfelter commented. “It’s a blessing to walk in with people who are so happy, and so eager to learn and do new things.”

The community development block grant was made possible through the help of Boonslick Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), which is helping manage the project, and the Warren County Commission, which helped secure the grant funding.

JoAnn Toerper with BRPC explained that the block grant funding comes from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It’s intended to help local communities address health and safety concerns and improve community facilities.

Toerper said the project is currently being drafted by an engineer while an environmental study is being done. Construction could possibly begin this summer, and is required to finish by December 2021, Toerper said.

To get the funding in the first place required direct assistance from the county commission. Toerper explained that community development block grants aren’t awarded directly to private agencies, so the funding has to be channeled through the county government. County commissioners said they were more than happy to help.

Presiding Commissioner Joe Gildehaus had high praise for the work being done by Handicapped Services.

“You guys are special,” Gildehaus told Clodfelter. “It takes a special person and staff to do what you all do.”

“We’re happy to sponsor to get some of the federal money down here to do good,” said Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner. “Handicapped Services are doing good for the community. It’s a win-win (for the county).”