Volunteers Make Project Work in Menomonie

In 2004 Oaklawn Harmony Center applied for a Community Development Block Grant - Public Facilities Grant through the City of Menomonie. The community had been working for two years on a project that would house several different social service providers under one roof. The project was to include Head Start, a daycare center, a rural dental clinic, a service agenda for Hmong refugees, a handicapped workshop and several offices for social service providers in the community. The plan was that the facility would offer a one-stop shop for many recipients of social services in the community.

The project was entirely coordinated by volunteers. The group was able to raise a considerable amount of grant funding within the community and from federal sources. A site was tentatively secured and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) committed $500,000 to the project. Unfortunately, the deal with the building seller fell through. Commerce gave the recipients time to secure a new location and provided assistance in finding the appropriate facility. When it became apparent that the only possibility was to build a new facility, Commerce granted an additional $250,000 to the project to make the project work financially.

Because the only available site was in a business park, the project needed a business component as well as a social services component. Commerce was able to provide an additional Community Based Economic Development Grant of $50,000 to help move two business incubator projects that had been previously funded by Commerce into the new facility. One part of the incubator is technology-based and associated with the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The other part is a food incubator that currently houses a rapidly-growing chocolate truffles business that has won regional awards.

The project had strong community board leadership in both its development and implementation. After one year of operation, the facility is serving over 200 low-income children, handicapped adults and Hmong refugees. Additionally many more low-income members of the community are receiving low-cost services through the dental clinic or from other services such as the Family services program.

As was mentioned, the facility also houses a very successful business and is negotiating with several other technology-related small businesses that are interested in occupying it. The facility provides very attractive, well-maintained space for its clients and has already achieved a positive cash flow. Because of its success several other communities have been exploring using the same model for efficiently proving quality services for those in need of social services in their communities.

-- Doug Thurlow