Third times a charm; Drywood receives grant

GARLAND, Kan. -- The third time is indeed a charm for the people of Drywood Township as they recently received news on a grant for a new community shelter.

After two failed attempts in less than three years, Drywood Township trustees have received funding from a Community Block Development Grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce for a 1,800 square-foot storm shelter and community building in Garland, Kan.

Drywood Township Trustee Darrell Bloomfield said they kept trying to find funding for the shelter because the people of Garland need a place to go during the storm season. He added the trustees and the community are very thankful.

"It feels good to know we finally succeeded," Bloomfield said.

Grant writer Laura Moore of the Regional Planning Commission called Bloomfield at 8 a.m., July 24, with the good news.

"It kind of floored me when she called me and said we got the grant," Bloomfield said. "To find out at 8 o'clock in the morning was kind of a shocker."

The total cost of the project is $325,910 and they are receiving $243,411 in CDBG funds. Bloomfield said the township is hoping to also get funding from FEMA as well.

"The FEMA grant waited until after we made sure we got money from CDBG," Bloomfield said.

The shelter will include a community room which will be used to host meetings and community events. It will also feature a full kitchen, men's and women's restrooms with showers, and a safe room. Bloomfield said they will be using a local architect to design the building. He added they would like to use local companies for the construction as well.

According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, Drywood Township was one of 44 Kansas communities which received a share of a total of $13,081,660.