Nonprofit looks for city support to create new senior center in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Northwest Illinois Area Agency on Aging wants to open a new senior center in the city, a move it says will fill a need that’s existed for about a decade.

City Council members on Monday pushed pause on a vote that could provide the nonprofit $300,000 over three years to help operate the center. A vote was delayed for three weeks after Alderwoman Gina Meeks raised questions about the location and whether it was the right use of city funds given other needs in Rockford.

The nonprofit wants serve adults 55 and older in a new center in the old River Valley Community Church at 5439 E. State St. That’s in the State Street Square plaza with Flow Supreme Air Sports and other businesses. It’s on the southwest side of the building behind Guitar Center.

The city’s funding, which will come in three annual installments of $100,000, is being used in conjunction with private fundraising and $250,000 in state funds secured by state Sen. Steve Stadelman. The money would go largely toward operational costs and leasing the building.

“The city funding will allow us to move forward but it will also require on our part lots of fundraising,” said Jeff Barnes, executive director of the Northwestern Illinois Agency on Aging. “We still have a deficit in our funds to open the doors, but it’s not so great that it’s not plausible. It’s something that we feel with the city’s funding we can make this happen.”

The 20,000-square-foot space is largely ready for the senior center to take over, Barnes said. There is needed cleaning and cosmetic work, as well as refitting some of the space to allow for the organization to move its offices from South Alpine Road to the new location. There’s not a set timeline for when it would open, if the funding is approved.

“It really becomes a one-stop shop or a no wrong door,” Barnes said. “People can come there for services for aging adults and still be able to participate in the various activities and programs that we want to offer at the senior center.”

Barnes said the city has needed a new center since the Nov. 7, 2015, fire that burned down Golden Agers on Sixth Avenue. That organization had operated from the building for more than three decades. No one was injured in the fire.

The new center is designed to create a welcoming environment for adults ages 55 and older. There will be group activities such as bingo and trivia nights, and a coffee shop offering beverages and light snacks. There are also educational programs, health and wellness activities and other social services.

“Most of our surrounding counties, if not all of them, have at least one type of senior center where individuals can go for socialization and interaction with other people,” Barnes said. “They can go there for educational opportunities to learn about computers or technology, or what it means when they retire and need Medicare and retired insurance.”

The organization expects to hire one or two additional people to help staff the senior center, along with a team of volunteers.

Meeks asked for more time on the measure after she questioned the location choice, saying need may be greater on the west side. She also questioned whether it was right for the city to commit the funds.

“Looking at where we are at the city in our budget, I just don’t feel comfortable right now – in this moment here at the beginning of the year – with a whole year ahead of us, knowing that there could be other opportunities that come before us,” Meeks said.

The location was selected by the nonprofit after scouting a multitude of locations across the city, City Administrator Todd Cagnoni and Alderman Mark Bonne both said.

The nonprofit considered a couple locations downtown, in Cherry Valley and Rockford University, Bonne said.

The site ultimately picked was favored because it’s on a bus route, doesn’t require extensive remodeling and the owners of the building, First Midwest Group, are giving a rental rate lower than other options. The cost is approximately $140,000 for rent and utilities a year, Cagnoni said.

“It’s very important. Senior isolation is a big problem. We’ve been without one for an awfully long time, and think this is a great proposal,” Bonne said.

The matter will go back before the committee on Jan. 26.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas