County’s aging initiative likely to reorganize into a non-profit agency
Living Longer and Stronger out of money at year’s end
by Laura Adelmann
Thisweek Newspapers
A Dakota County initiative administered by a local non-profit organization is likely to become its own non-profit next year.
What began as the county’s investigation of how to accommodate an aging public became an action plan through DARTS.
The county funded the program with about $110,000 annually for three years, but it is not being funded in 2011, said Jack Ditmore, director of operations, management and budget.
At a July 27 committee meeting, DARTS vice president Beth Wiggins said the aging initiative, now called Living Longer and Stronger, has formed a sustainability committee to explore ways to continue its work without county support.
She said about 70 volunteers have given over 1,000 hours of time this year, providing support to residents in a variety of ways.
For example, in Burnsville, the organization’s Health and Wellness Team surveyed residents age 45 and older about how senior centers can adapt to meet changing needs and demographics.
The group plans to next focus on Apple Valley and Rosemount.
Other areas of involvement have included housing, services, wellness, transportation, work and community.
Wiggins said the organization has no money now, and funding the new non-profit would be a challenge.
“There may be other partners interested in the community development side of this as opposed to the aging side,” she said.
Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
