Allen County Board of DD superintendent Theresa Schnipke and Secretary Joyce Diller discuss new projects at the facility.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — At the start of the new year, a new project will be underway at the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The organization plans to renovate its building and bring it up to date.
The project is set to cost $1.25 million to complete.
Allen County Commissioners approved the Allen County Board of DD to receive contract bids for the project.
Following finding the right contractor, the project should begin at the start of 2023.
In 2022, the Allen County Board of DD was able to complete a project converting a closed pool on their property into office space for social workers.
“We placed this project on hold in 2022 to bump up the one in the school building,” said Theresa Schnipke, Superintendent. “We are resurrecting it to finish it and do it in 2023. This is the original building. It is major window, lighting, paint and office work. This will help make the use of our space efficient. I am excited about this project.”
The organization was designed to meet the needs of community members with developmental disabilities and continues to do just that.
Although Marimor Industries, Allen County Board of DD and the Allen County Educational Service Center are three separate businesses, the Allen County Board is responsible for each of the properties.
“Marimor Industries is in the first building,” said Theresa Schniple, Superintendent. “The operations of the County Board are in the second building. We also have (county) staff in the school building where the Allen County ESC preschool through high school runs too.”
The Allen County ESC provides education for young children through young adults.
Marimor Industries is a company that provides employment and training for adults in Allen County.The Allen County Board of DD provides services including intervention, support and vocational training.
For more than 55 years, the Allen County Board of DD has served community members from the beginning of their life until the end. Schnipke said the Board of DD is the only social service agency that does.
“We have early intervention which is birth to 3,” added Schnipke. “We serve some students and children. A few hundred. On any given year we serve about 1,400 people. A lot of people just don’t know that early intervention and birth to three is the Board of DD and we have case management and all kinds of programs for students.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
