The City of Inkster may soon receive a $2.5 million federal grant for the construction of a Senior Wellness Center in the community.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-13th District) revealed the possible grant to Inkster as part of $15.3 million which may soon be awarded to organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities in her district. The funding was approved by the House, but still needs Senate approval before it can be officially released.
The proposed senior wellness center in Inkster was initially proposed in early 2006 when an advocacy group made up of citizens and Inkster Senior Services representatives began working with Inkster administration to examine the possibility of establishing a Senior Center.
Later that year, a mileage voters approved a millage to provide services in the area of Recreation, Parks, Senior Services and the Summer Festival. The millage, however, was for “operations and service” only and did not include funding for construction or development.
In 2008, the advocacy group members began research and fundraising endeavors. The lead entity, Inkster Senior Services is a non-profit organization partly funded by the City of Inkster, through the Parks and Recreation Department.
In 2009, members of the Inkster City Council set aside $150,000 from the budget for the Senior Center. During this fiscal year, $65,000 was spent on architectural services and design. A request for consideration of federal appropriations was sent to local congressmembers in 2010.
Following a meeting in 2011, the project was dormant until revived last year when Tlaib championed funding for 10 projects that will directly benefit youth, seniors, and many more communities in need of this kind of investment. Others on the list of approved grants include $850,000 for the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance for a work-based learning program in Wayne and Westland for at-risk in-school youth age 14 or older, including stipends and supportive services and $550,000 for the City of Wayne to fund the rehabilitation of the Goudy Park Amphitheater that serves as a community space for families and events.
