Dunkirk, Buckeye seeking grant

The process remains in the planning stages, but local officials are hoping construction of a senior housing complex will become a reality.
Jay County development director Ami Huffman reported Tuesday to the Jay County Development Corporation board of directors that she is working with the City of Dunkirk and Buckeye Community Hope Foundation to apply for a grant that would pay for three quarters of the proposed $4.3 million facility.
Buckeye, a not-for-profit group that supports housing projects for low-income seniors as well as other initiatives for those in need, is seeking the $3.4 million grant for tax credit investment from Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) for a senior housing complex in Dunkirk. It would build the facility on the west side of Main Street between Center Street and the railroad tracks.
The grant application requires local buy-in, for which Jay County Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) Advisory Committee approved a recommendation for a $150,000, 16-year loan at 0 percent interest at a meeting Tuesday morning. Jay County Council will review the proposal at its meeting tonight.
The City of Dunkirk has also pledged $110,000 toward the project.
The proposed three-story complex would include 28 units for housing residents 55 and older.
Also in the plans are a courtyard, social hall, kitchen, laundry room, kitchen area, library, computer room and administrative office space.
“We’re working on that pretty hard,” said Huffman. “Hopefully that will work out. …
“That would be pretty great in downtown Dunkirk.”
The city will likely learn if it has received the grant in March, Huffman said, with the bid process to follow and construction to begin late in 2015 or early 2016.
Huffman also told the board that grant applications have been turned in for construction of a new fire station in Redkey and to help clean up 10 blighted properties in Dunkirk.
JCDC executive directory Bill Bradley informed the board that he has what he feels is a good lead for a buyer for the former Jay Products building and surrounding 35 acres at the northeast corner of Meridian Street and county road 100 North. The building has been empty for about a year.
There have also been businesses potentially interested in larger buildings — 4,000 to 5,000 square feet — Bradley said, which may lead to discussion about the construction of a spec building in the next year or so.
“That’s one of the things we struggle with in both East Central and Northeast Indiana right now. We’re running out of buildings again,” he added, noting that he didn’t want to make any moves toward a spec building until the Hartzell Air Movement and Jay Products buildings had been sold. “The economy has heated up so much … That’s a good thing, but it also leaves us with a challenge.”
Bradley also presented board members with a new committee structure for 2015 that would include the current executive committee as well as personnel, finance, nominating and past chairs committees. He and JCDC president Dan Watson said the goal of the new committees is to increase involvement among the group’s membership.
In other business, the JCDC board:
•Heard reports from members Barb Street and Faron Parr that attendance at Jay County Historical Society’s Heritage Festival was strong despite the cold weather this weekend.
•Heard a report from Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Dean Sanders that there were 21 vendors at the Sept. 28 Jay County Food and Drink Festival with attendance of about 250.
•Learned from Bradley that the executive committee will prepare the 2015 budget this month with a vote for approval scheduled for December. Pay increases, he said, generally match those of county employees, which were set at 2 percent.
•Received an update from Jay County Fair Board member that construction is going well on the new Marion and Irene Bubp building at the fairgrounds.