CACHE COUNTY – County officials here have announced that they have received a state grant in the amount of $25,000 to develop a plan for a new senior center.
That grant from the Community Impact Board (CIB) of Utah will require equivalent matching funds from Cache County, resulting in a total of $50,000 being spent on planning efforts, according to County Executive David Zook.
Cache County currently operates a Senior Center located at 240 North, 100 East in Logan, which Zook says is “bursting at the seams with participants.”
“A new Senior Center is vital to the needs of our rapidly growing older adult population,” explains Giselle Madrid, the center’s director, echoing Zook’s opinion.
“The existing facility is outdated,” she adds, “and lacks the space and resources to adequately support the diverse programs and services that our patrons rely on.”
Built more than 50 years ago, the current Cache County Senior Center provides only 15,000 square feet of space. The building includes a commercial kitchen, cafeteria, exercise room, a small library, a game room, a craft space and a ceramics room.
The Senior Center’s kitchen is also used to support the Meals on Wheels program, which served more than 53,000 meals to local seniors in 2024.
Among the challenges associated with the current Senior Center are lack of adequate interior space and parking issues as well as classrooms, offices and restrooms that limit the use of wheelchairs, Zook emphasizes.
Madrid hopes that plans for a new Senior Center will profoundly benefit older adults by providing a modern, safe and accessible space tailored to their needs. Ideally, that facility would include expanded programs and activities such as fitness classes, educational workshops, social events, meal programs, health screenings and caregiver support.
“Our seniors need and deserve a bigger, better facility,” Zook says.
County officials will use the grant funding to hire a consultant to assist with the development of a plan for the new senior center. That expert will assist local staff members in determining the appropriate size, amenities, location and financing for the new facility.
The Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) is a state program that provides grants and loans to local communities that are affected by mineral resource development on federal lands.
The CIB’s mission is to reduce the burden on local communities by providing funding for activities like construction, planning and maintenance of public facilities.
The CIB is funded with mineral lease royalties that the federal government returns to the state.