Nishna productions receives $600K grant for new building

After four years of unsuccessful searches for funding to add a new building, Nishna Productions, Inc. has received a $600,000 federal grant for construction of a new building.

The grant originates with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is distributed through Iowa Department of Economic Development in what is called a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Nishna cannot apply for HUD grants, but the county or city governments were eligible to apply in their behalf.

“Persistence and patience pays off,” Sherri Clark, Executive Director of Nishna Productions, Inc. said. That’s advice she and her staff give to many of their 200 clients and which they applied to themselves in seeking grants to expand their services within a four county region.

She’s aware funds are now harder to come by and is glad the city asked Marsha Cory to prepare the grant. Cory has secured grant funds for Emerson and other communities in the past.

Cory’s application must have been just about perfect. The city will receive every dime they requested in the grant.

“Over time funds have decreased, but hey, we were fortunate this time,” Clark said.

She’s in her 25th year with the service. The last four years, they applied for grants. This year’s successful CDBG application was made by the city and will be overseen by them.

The application asked for a new building which is to provide a commercial laundry and vocational center. Clark expects Nishna clients will eventually be laundering shop towels, floor mats, uniforms and maybe laundry for hospitality services. Currently those soiled items are sent to services in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb. or St. Joseph, Mo.

“When the grant was announced, it brought a glimmer of hope to Red Oak,” Clark said. “We know people are looking forward to a new business coming into ROMECH, too. We did business with a lot of the businesses that are gone, Ever-Ready, ROMECH, Traco, JII Sales/Thomas D. Murphy.”

Clark named businesses that have employed clientele trained by Nishna over its time in Red Oak. She hoped she didn’t forget any, but in naming them, she acknowledged at least 16 local businesses that have helped keep Nishna’s clients employed.

Some of her clients require a job coach at the employment site, which is provided by Nishna.

About 140 people are a part of the residential services provided through Nishna. Several live in group homes in Red Oak, Shenandoah and Malvern. Nishna also assists clients in houses in Red Oak and Sidney, as well as providing in-home care to those residing with family or for those still living nearly independently.

For some, Nishna’s office building is where they go to work.

Some of the employees who complete training at 207 South Third Street spend part of their day working for Parker-Hannifin, Oriental Trading Company and Lynn Roberts, Southwest Community College, Oak Creek Apartments, the courthouse, Pella, Eaton, Lloyd Lab Veterinary Supply, recycling shipping cartons for NSKAKS and providing custodial work for several local churches.

Additionally, Nishna operates Savings Central, a discount store, at 416 Reed Street in Red Oak, the Redemption Center for cans and bottles and, when possible, sells shaved ice treats at Legion Park.

The staff wants to have opportunities in Red Oak and throughout Southwest Iowa for each potential employee. The staff is grateful the city went ahead in applying for the grant for the new facility.

“We’ve been very thankful for the city’s help and support and we appreciate what they have done to bring our hopes to fruition,” Clark said.

Some work, like packing and labeling for Oriental Trading Company, is sent right to Nishna. Some of the other rooms within the building are used for training.

“We’ve outgrown our space here,” Clark said, speaking of the facility at 209 South Third Street in Red Oak.

“This building will stay as a vocational training site and provide adult day rehabilitation. Those clients are generally older. We will also continue to have offices here,” Clark said.

“The grant for the new building is a ‘win/win’ situation. The more money we get, the more people we can put to work and the less burden for (area) taxpayers.”

The estimated cost of the new facility is $1.3 million. Because of earlier grants, loans and fundraising, Nishna is short about $265,000.

For four years Nishna has kept the entire $426,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for their new commercial laundry building. They’ve raised an additional $45,000 and have completed some grants and are preparing others to lessen the amount they’ll have to raise locally.

Clark said they are waiting to hear about a sizeable grant that would bring the shortfall to closer to $150,000, but expects they’ll be doing other fundraising to supplement funds already in place.

Locally, JESCO Engineering won the bid to design the new facility and Clark expects their work to be ready for bids sometime this fall.

The grant specifies the building must be completed by October 2010, although there may an opportunity to apply for an extension is necessary. Clark hopes the structure will be completed in the spring of 2010.

The new 16,200-square foot building will be located on the empty lot south of United Group Realty on Broadway, just blocks west of where the current building stands. The expansion will include the metal structure that formerly housed the administration offices for the Red Oak School District.

Clark said that building is currently being used for storage but will likely become the home for the redemption center operated by Nishna employees.