funding for new mexico senior centers secured

More than a dozen senior citizen centers in various parts of New Mexico will be seeing facility improvements as a result of legislation passed and signed into law by Governor Susana Martinez.

Among the severance tax bonds approved in House Bill 306 is $90,000 for the planning, design and construction improvements, along with parking lot and accessibility features, at the Thoreau Senior Citizens Center in the town of Thoreau.

Another $90,000 will target the expansion of kitchen facilities at the Belen Senior Center in Belen; while $80,000 will go for the for the planning, design, and improvement construction of the Roy Senior Center in the northeastern village of Roy.

A project that will see the planning, design, and construction of a building belonging to the Hondo Senior Center in the southeastern community of Hondo is getting $75,000; with $70,000 going for the design and construction of improvements, and a new parking lot, sidewalks, and covered entry, for the Fort Sumner Senior Citizens Center in Fort Sumner.

Up to $50,000 is being allocated for the planning, design, and construction of improvements to the Ramah Senior Citizens Center in the census designated place of Ramah in northwestern New Mexico. The Ramah project will also include roof work, parking lot improvements, and wastewater connections.

Altogether, the New Mexico Legislature approved more than $787,000 requested by the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department.

By Garry Boulard

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