Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

POTOSI—The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has awarded the city of Potosi, on behalf of Sayers Senior Center, a grant for $590,550 to upgrade and make repairs to the center.

“The City of Potosi is overjoyed to receive this grant through CDBG,” Potosi Mayor Joseph Blount said. “This grant will provide much needed updates for our senior citizen building. We would like to thank the Meramec Regional Planning Commission for all the help and insight in securing this grant.”

The center has experienced chronic stormwater and flooding issues due to the property’s grading, which has caused deterioration to the building and interior mildew concerns. The project will reroute stormwater, improve the grading of the site and add new foundation drains and storm inlets. Due to the age of the building, the windows, doors, and the external building siding are inefficient and deteriorating. The project includes replacing the windows on the west side of the building, doors, and exterior siding, as well as repairing and improving the canopy entrances, gutters and downspouts.

Locations such as the parking and sidewalk areas, bathrooms, and the area designated for food delivery have issues of accessibility. The existing pedestrian bridge that connects the parking area to the building is in a state of disrepair and also in need of replacement.

The project will also address needed safety upgrades in the interior of the center. Upgrades will be made to the restrooms to improve accessibility and efficiency and the floor in the food delivery area is proposed to be reworked, with ramps removed, to result in one level room.

“The Sayers Senior Center wishes to thank Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Archer-Elgin Engineering, Mayor Joseph Blount and the City of Potosi for their dedication and commitment to this project and its successful funding,” Sayers Senior Center Board Member T.R. Dudley said. “We look forward to the renovation and repair work this grant will provide for our senior residents and the entire community.  The center offers resources as well as affordable, delicious, healthy meals, a variety of activities and a gathering place for all through our partnership with the City of Potosi, the Washington County Commission, Aging Best, the regional Area Agency on Aging, our volunteers and generous donations from the community.”

The Sayers Senior Center has been open in Potosi for over 50 years, providing necessary services to seniors in Potosi and the surrounding communities. Some of the services provided include health programs and screenings, information and referral services, daily walking, meals, social activities, and volunteer opportunities.

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) prepared the grant request and will administer the grant on behalf of the city of Potosi and the Sayer Senior Center.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be $689,925 with difference coming from the city and in-kind donations. Archer-Elgin, from Rolla, will be doing the engineering work on the project.

CDBG programs are designed to support the well-being of Missouri’s communities and increase their capacity for growth. Grants are available in several categories and can be utilized for a variety of community development initiatives.

The CDBG program is a flexible program that provides communities with the necessary resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Missouri Department of Economic Development handles Missouri’s allocation of CDBG funds and offers them on a competitive basis to cities, counties and other qualifying entities outside entitlement areas, that receive direct CDBG funds.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Mary Heywood, representing the unemployed, serves as chair of the board. A professional staff of 26 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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Cutline: MRPC staff, representatives from CDBG and community stakeholders gather for the grant kick-off meeting on Feb. 25, 2025. The CDBG grant was awarded to Potosi, on behalf of the Sayer Senior Center, to help make upgrades and repairs to the center.