| 113th Year, 30th Issue | Thursday, March 7, 2002 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Work on New River Cottage Inc.'s new group home is under way. The home, located behind the ADVP (Adult Developmental Vocational Program) building, will house five developmentally disabled - that is, mentally retarded - adults and will replace facilities New River Cottage has been renting on Duncan Street.
Members of New River Cottage's board of directors and representatives of Blue Ridge Enterprises and the USDA/RD (U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development division) were present for the groundbreaking ceremony Feb. 21. Blue Ridge Enterprises of Mount Airy is the project contractor. A $250,000 low-interest loan from USDA/RD will finance most of the $330,000 construction cost of the project.
Harrol D. Blevins, executive director of New River Cottage Inc. and Alleghany Group Homes, said the target completion date for the 3,000-plus-square-foot building is July 31.
While the new home's location will provide closer access to ADVP, at which some of the residents work, and to the new Alleghany County Health Center, Blevins said the main reason for the new building is the need to update New River Cottage's facilities. "The guidelines for those kind of homes have increased over the years, and we're just trying to keep up," he said.
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