GLENVILLE &045; An assisted-care housing complex for seniors in Glenville got a promise from the county Housing Redevelopment Authority to contribute up to $21,000 Tuesday.

The project is going to be the first example for the HRA to actually engage in the housing issue. The county HRA does not have any funds, therefore the endowment needs to wait for a county board decision to transfer money from the county budget during the board meeting next Tuesday.

The facility, planned by the Glenville Booster Club, will have 18 units with a common area and space for basic medical needs. The site, on the west side of town, will be donated by the city.

The boosters applied for USDA funding to cover the $1.8 million project, but have been stalled by the requirement of a market survey to realize the loan. Ruth Stadheim, coordinator of the Boosters Executive Committee, said the $21,000 would be used to complete the survey as well as to pay for architectural designing, advertising, appraisal and legal fees.

The county’s contribution could be reimbursed by the USDA if the project were approved for the loan, Stadheim said.

Glenville mayor Wes Webb emphasized that the new facility would empower not only Glenville but also the whole county.

&uot;Our goal is to provide adequate senior living facility in our community,&uot; he said. &uot;Without adequate housing, they move out of the community and even the county.&uot;

Webb also anticipates the facility would make moderately priced houses available in the market after seniors moved into the facility, and then younger working families could purchase the property.

The group aims to set the rent somewhere around $600 so that the facility can be affordable for many seniors and maintain a high occupancy rate.

April Sutor, Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund, was also invited to the meeting. Though Sutor said the organization has no grants available to housing projects, it can help provide information about other grant opportunities besides the USDA to finance the Boosters’ effort.

Commissioner Dan Belshan said, &uot;The exciting part of this is that this project could be replicated in other part of the county.&uot;

The board also confirmed that it would continue to seek the possibility of establishing cooperation between the county HRA and the City of Albert Lea HRA for future projects.