GARLAND -- A community center and storm shelter is one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to some assistance from the federal government.

During the Friday meeting of the Bourbon County Commission, Drywood Township officials announced during a public hearing that a project to build a county-wide community building and all-hazard shelter had received a $35,000 appropriation from the office of United States Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan.

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"It's nice of them (government) to work on it," Bourbon County Commissioner Bill Brittain said. "It's significant, but it's just one small piece of the puzzle. The money will help with funds used for the match. It's a portion of the total grant."

Brittain, who serves the Second District, including Drywood Township, said about 10 supporters of the project attended the Friday hearing, which also concerned the township's effort to re-apply for a $273,550 Community Block Development Grant, which would help with project costs. Bourbon County is lending its support to the project, which would eventually see the construction of a 5,000-square-foot community center and storm shelter in Garland.

"The CDBG hearing went great," Brittain said. "There was no opposition. We (commissioners) signed all the documents and the application is ready."

The $35,000 appropriation would go toward Drywood Township's in-kind contribution to the 75-25 matching grant; a CDBG that is issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The appropriation would help with the 25 percent in matching funds, or a little more than $68,000, that the township would need to raise if the CDBG is approved.

Brittain said he is not sure if Drywood Township will receive the entire amount of the CDBG, but that the project should get started early next year.

"I think it will be a reality," he said. "Anytime you've received any funds at all, I think it looks good. It may help weigh more with them (federal government). They may give the whole thing or a partial grant, depending on funding available and the number of projects that are asking for funding."

Brittain added that Bourbon County will help Drywood Township come up with needed grant funds by providing $18,000 toward the storm shelter project. Drywood Township has also asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance in providing matching grant funds, as FEMA has made funding for shelters in small communities more of a priority, Brittain said. Officials are still uncertain whether FEMA will be able to allot any funds to the project, he said.

The community center and storm shelter project began last year when Drywood Township officials applied for a CDBG to build the facility, which originally would have contained a single small steel and concrete reinforced safe room that could house 35-40 people during severe storms or other crisis situations. The township was denied the grant, but officials have continued their mission to get the facility built, and re-applied for the CDBG this month.

The design of the building has been changed, as required by Kansas law, to be classified as a county-wide community building and all-hazard shelter, Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers said. The redesigned facility could benefit the entire county as an option for a safe shelter during a crisis or disaster, Jeffers said. Local residents could also use the facility for various community events.

The completed facility would be owned by Drywood Township and Bourbon County, while the township would be responsible for the building's upkeep, as well as utility and maintenance costs. Bourbon County crews would build the facility and a parking lot on land currently owned by Drywood Township.

Brittain said officials should know by mid-January whether Drywood Township has received the CDBG. Attempts to reach representatives of Boyda's office for comment on this story were unsuccessful.