Overview and Update - Inkster Senior Wellness Center Project

In early 2006, an advocacy group made up of citizens and Inkster Senior Services began working with the City Administration to examine the possibility of establishing a Senior Center. Later that year, a mileage was passed to provide services in the area of Recreation, Parks, Senior Services and the Summer Festival.

It should be noted that the millage was for "operations and service" only and did not include funding for construction or development.

2008

The advocacy group began research and fundraising endeavors. The lead entity, Inkster Senior Services is a non-profit entity partly funded by the City of Inkster, through the Parks and Recreation Department. They, along with Because Inkster Cares, have the non-profit status to raise funds toward the effort of building a Senior Center. These funds allowed them to commission a Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study. It identified three possible locations (old City Hall, addition to recreation complex or stand-alone next to the new City Hall). The Study determined that the most appropriate location is attached to the Recreation Complex. Per City Council direction, $150,000 was set aside from 2008-2009 budget toward the effort. A request for consideration of federal appropriations, through Senator Carl Levin’s and Congressman Dingell’s offices were submitted.

2009

Per City Council direction, $150,000 was set aside from 2009-2010 budget for the Senior Center. During this fiscal year, $65,000 was spent on architectural services and design. This effort involved considerable public input to identify needs and services. Again, a request for consideration of federal appropriations, through Senator Carl Levin’s and Congressman Dingell’s offices were submitted.

2010

City Administration submitted a request for consideration of federal appropriations, through Senator Carl Levin’s and Congressman Dingell’s offices. In addition, City administration and members of TIFA traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for funding consideration for the Senior Center, as well as other projects

A meeting was held with Oakwood Hospital regarding possible partnership with them in developing the senior wellness center.

City Administration was directed to apply to MSHDA for NSP funds for a Senior Center to be built at the Allen Lumber site. This required that cost be incurred for new drawings specific to this particular site and that a housing component be added to make the application more competitive. No funds were awarded.

An informal, ad-hoc team consisting of the Mayor, City Manager and the Planning, Building and Economic Development Director have been involved in conducting a number of meetings with various individuals and organizations. This effort is directed towards expanding our network, identifying needs and seeking resources to help put together a strategic plan aimed at getting a Senior Wellness Center developed. Over the past several months, the team has…

• Met with Wayne County Community College District Chancellor along with his executive staff and the City’s Lobbyist.
• Conducted site visits at the Allen Lumber Yard site in consideration of locating a Senior Wellness Center on that property.
• Met with the Director of the Neighborhood Club in Grosse Pointe to review their success story on getting a new Neighborhood Club and Senior Center developed in their town.

2011

Theola Jones, the City’s Director of Planning, Building and Economic Development and the City’s Special Projects Manager met with the Director of Services for Older Citizens (SOC) in Grosse Pointe and the Director of the Neighborhood Club to further discuss their successes and failures and to establish strategies on moving our effort forward.

The Mayor and City Council are committed to continuing to pursue funding and finding a way to make a Senior Wellness Center a reality for the City of Inkster. As part of that effort, the Council recently directed staff to pursue grant funding opportunities and to continue to work towards putting a strategic plan in place to help guide the effort and see it to fruition. This effort is currently on-going.