The Women Infant and Children office in New Carlisle recently moved to a new location as part of a cost-cutting measure that forced the organization to lay off staff and change its hours.

The local agency, which has offices in Springfield, New Carlisle, Enon and South Charleston, laid off five employees and moved its New Carlisle office to 468 N. Dayton Lakeview Road.

An open house will be held at the new office from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Monday.

The changes come as WIC officials brace for a 26.7 percent cut in funding, said Rita Jones, executive director of the Clark County WIC Program.

The new location for the nutrition program is also home to the Family & Youth Initiatives/New Carlisle Women’s Network, which serves many of the same clients as WIC, said Pat Banaszak, executive director of the center.

Banaszak will allow WIC staff to occupy space at the facility rent-free after learning the agency was considering closing the New Carlisle office because of financial concerns.

She said her agency could have used the rent as they are currently raising money to purchase the building for $200,000, but it wanted to help an organization that is important to the community.

“I’ve been a resident of Bethel Twp. for over 40 years. We know the needs out here … We could not fathom not having a WIC program out here. Their services are way too valuable to lose,” Banaszak said.

Funding cuts for WIC agencies statewide ranged from 7 to 34 percent.

Michelle Frizzell, director of the WIC for the Ohio Department of Health, has said the agency has seen consecutive years in federal funding cuts to its administrative budget, dropping 7 percent or from $56.7 million in fiscal year 2011 to $52.8 million in fiscal year 2012.

Frizzell has said officials are anticipating more cuts to the program in 2013.

Champaign County will not see any funding cuts, but Greene County has been told to anticipate a 22.5 percent cut, according to Ohio Department of Health officials.

Frizzell has said anticipated funding cuts by the local agencies is based on the average cost per participant, which is $17.40 for Clark County. Tremble County’s average cost per participate is $17.49, and officials say they have asked them to anticipate a 23.4 percent cut in funding.

Women Infants and Children provides formula, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables, milk and bread to its clients. Participants must meet income requirements and can attend breast feeding and other classes.

The New Carlisle clinic, which serves 850 clients, had operated on North Main Street, where officials paid about $20,000 annually for rent and utilities.

The new hours for the clinic are: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday; and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m,. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The New Carlisle office will be closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Jones said the new office provides WIC clients with a convenient location where they can receive multiple services that help their families.

“It works out very well because all of these agencies are located in the same area,” Jones said.