Release Date: Dec 1, 2009
File:

Summary:
The Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services has worked with the County Commissioners to purchase a building at 700 Liberty Lane, West Carrollton. County Commission President Dan Foley commented, "This initiative was the result of an extensive facilities search over the past 18 months and is one of the Boards major goals in its 2009 Annual Plan.  The last facility purchased by the Board for adults in this county, took place more than 25 years ago."  The building offers 53,000 sq. feet of usable floor space and was purchased for $1.943 million.  Funds have been put aside to purchase and renovate this facility from both Federal and State Governments.

The building will be a multipurpose Adult Services Center offering both habilitation and work opportunities for up to 200 individuals.  Superintendent Mark Gerhardstein stated, "We are excited about what this will do for people with disabilities. The present facilities and programs are exceeding their capacity.  This new building will help to create space for new enrollees, many of whom will be future high school graduates, and save money in transportation costs.  This new building will also allow us to consolidate a site we currently lease into the new space."

The new building will increase our program's accessibility because it will be located closer to the concentration of individuals living in the southern portion of the county.  All other Board adult facilities are presently located in the western and northeastern portions of the county.  Staff levels will remain essentially the same until program participant expansion requires additional staff.  Program participants and staff will be reassigned to accommodate the new site.  Occupancy is not expected to occur until after renovations have been completed in the summer of 2010. 

The mission of the Board is to serve children and adults with mental retardation and other significant developmental disabilities, most of whom require comprehensive life-long services.  The Board provides supports for individuals to live, learn, work and participate in their community.  The Board also provides supports for families in their efforts to care for their family member with a disability.