FORT WALTON BEACH — Just one year ago, hope for continuing Horizons of Okaloosa County’s day-care center seemed dim.
Monday, the center is announcing its groundbreaking on renovations to improve and expand its facility in Fort Walton Beach.
“The bottom line was we needed to find a way to improve the whole facility,” said Horizons CEO Julie McNabb. “The building is old and definitely needed to be renovated. Currently, it doesn’t have the right space requirements to help us not run a deficit every year.”
The center was founded in 1955 as an affiliate of The Arc of the United States, an advocacy group for people of all ages with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Horizons will host a groundbreaking Wednesday to kick off the $416,000, three-phase expansion and renovation of its center and grounds on Holmes Boulevard.
Work will include expanding the front of the building and adding more classroom space and an activities room. That will allow for more than a dozen new openings for clients.
The center now serves the maximum amount of clients it is allotted.
The $136,000 funding for the first phase was donated by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. McNabb said she has two other proposals written for the second and third phases.
McNabb said she expects the construction will continue through May 2014. The center will stay open through the work.
“We’re just really excited to be at this point, and it absolutely wouldn’t be possible without Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation,” McNabb said.
WANT TO ATTEND?
The groundbreaking ceremony will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Horizons of Okaloosa County on Holmes Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.