CHEER hoping to get federal dollars, as they plan on expanding their efforts

GEORGETOWN, Del.- CHEER, which provides essential services to low-income senior citizens, wants to expand. They’ve requested federal dollars to support infrastructure development of an Administrative Building in Georgetown.

“These are these projects that show a great community need but also have great community support,” Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester said.

“That will free up space in the community center for more activities for seniors and will get the administrative staff relocated from the state service center on the other side of town, right here to what will be the middle of this senior village,” Ken Bock, CEO of CHEER, said.

With a price tag of $5.1 million for that building, CHEER’s requesting $500,000.

“It had been approved in the House of Representatives now we need the Senate to pass these bills and then it will go on to the President’s desk,” Representative Blunt Rochester said.

But, this Administrative Building isn’t the only thing they have their eyes set on. CHEER wants to bring four more apartment buildings to this property.

“Provide 300 affordable housing units for seniors citizens right here clustered around all of the kind of services, the existing senior center, adult day care, a home service program,” Bock said.

“That’s why this is important, it’s a quality of life issue for our seniors,” Rep. Blunt Rochester said. “When you look at Sussex County itself we’ve seen an expansion in the population, I think our past census data shows that it’s the fastest growing County.”

With that said, there’s still hoops to jump, but for now, CHEER leaders are glad the project is being highlighted.

“We are very hopeful and there are a lot of steps to go, but this was a big step in that direction,” Bock said.

We’re told the administrative building will also help to coordinate senior services easier and be more responsive to their total needs.