Grants Aid Upcoming Adult Achievement Center

by Jonathan Weaver

More than $3,000 in grants received last week will help the Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County hopefully open its new Adult Achievement Center at the beginning of 2017.

Chief Executive Officer Michelle Reefer said the organization received $3,500 in grants during the annual Community Foundation Serving the Heart of Western Pennsylvania dinner last week.

“We’re in the process of getting a new program licensed, so we asked for money for curriculum for that program,” Reefer said. “We just have to decide which one now that we want to use.”

The organization formed in 1968 to provide vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities became interested in opening the new day training facility after conversation with officials from the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program.

“That was kind-of a conversation starter, and then I thought ‘We can do this,’” Reefer said. “(The Adult Achievement Center) is going to be specifically for 18-30 year olds who aren’t ready to come into a work setting yet that need those soft skills, like how to interact with people. We’re also going to teach some life skills, too to help them perhaps someday be able to live on their own.

“It’s pretty exciting. I’m hoping January 1 we’re ready to open the doors on it.”

The program is to be maintained in a West Kittanning building once updates and licensing is achieved and would employ a handful of new employees.

Be sure to read the upcoming Kittanning Paper Week-End Edition for more information about this new opportunity coming to middle Armstrong County.

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