The nonprofit — which caters to people with developmental disabilities with a variety of services — is building an adult day services program in the space, said Linda Smith, public relations director for CRSI. The program should initially bring in about five new jobs.
“Individuals would come in each day,” Smith said. “Some of them are just there for recreational uses and needs and do what they want to do during the day. Some of them are actual employees and do trash and sweeping and are actually being paid in more of a vocational-type setting.”
CRSI has nine locations in the state, but purchased the 2030 N. Limestone St. location in order to provide more substantial services. For the past 20 years, CRSI has served Clark County but only provided residential services for the area.
Now the organization will provide life and work skills development, said Dave Faulkner, CRSI development administrator.
“They’ll be in a mode of learning and receive training to be more independent,” he said.”We’ll work on skills to work in agriculture and food service, and also some light assembly and order processing.”
Faulkner said the goal was to focus on some of the core strengths of Clark County’s economy, such as distribution, food service and agriculture.
Horton Hobbs, vice president of economic development for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said it was important to provide opportunities in Clark County’s strongest sectors. He cited TAC Industries work in the defense industry as an example.
“You need to provide opportunities for all of the population,” Hobbs said. He commended the county for having “excellent” services for those with disabilities and mental health needs.
“We will improve their skill sets and enhance employment opportunities,” he said. “That should be the overall goal.”
Smith said CRSI will occupy the greenhouse section of the building. Trophy Sports Center is already in the front of the building, she said.
The agency hosted a ceremony Wednesday to mark the beginning of renovations to the building, which Smith said would be a “major overhaul” of the greenhouse and part of the main section of the building. Neither she nor Faulkner had a dollar figure for how much the renovation would cost. Faulkner said CRSI is mostly funded through Medicaid.
“Thank you for choosing Clark County,” said Clark County Commissioner John Detrick to CRSI employees. “You were able to pick (the former McKinnon’s facility) up and are in the process of recycling the property in a very viable area.”
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