Senior centers considered for block grants

Aging senior center facilities were one main topic Tuesday when Kalispell held a public needs assessment hearing to identify potential Community Development Block Grant applications for next year.

Concerns were raised about the Agency on Aging facility and Kalispell Senior Center, according to Katharine Thompson, the director of community and economic development for Kalispell.

The public needs hearing is required before Kalispell can apply for any of the highly competitive federal Community Development Block Grant money, Thompson said.

With Congress failing to pass a budget for several years, no one knows at this point how much money will be available or when applications will be due, but they are typically due each spring.

“The estimate for 2013 — and it’s not allocated yet — is like $5.4 million for the state. Those funds can go to public facilities projects, housing, economic development, planning grants. They really are stretched,” Thompson said of the federal funding.

Some recent Community Development Block Grant projects have included the ongoing, comprehensive review of Kalispell’s growth policy and equipment purchases for a machining program at Flathead Valley Community College.

Some local businesses have identified a need for more heavy equipment operators, so another potential project could include equipment purchases for a program at the community college, Thompson said.

“This is very much about setting the stage” for next year’s applications, Thompson said of Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall.

Any potential Community Development Block Grant application Kalispell could decide to make would require another public hearing and formal approval by the City Council.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.