LOXLEY, Ala. — It was an excited group that gathered in the conference room of Citizens’ Bank in Loxley. It’s not every day you see a check for $5.6 million.

That’s the loan the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County received from the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development to construct a new training center in the Robertsdale Industrial Park.

“The reason we are building it (the facility) is twofold,” said Kathy Fleet, the executive director of ARCBC. “Second, we are going to build the facility to withstand winds of 200 mph, so in a disaster we can house up to 200 clients, not including staff. The first reason for all this is to build a training facility.”

Fleet explained that the facility will teach mentally handicapped individuals “daily living skills, to be able to live in the community and vocational skills.” the “community living skills” can be complex.

“We teach how to act in public,” said Fleet. “That gives clients an opportunity to socialize.”

The loan according to Fleet, is for 40 years at 4 1/2 percent interest.

“We don’t have a final cost,” said Fleet, adding that the project had not yet gone to bid, so it is possible that the group won’t need the full loan amount.

The group operates several group homes and assisted living facilities in the area. One of the group’s big projects operates a commercial laundry to clean linens for area condos.

“They (the clients) want the same thing you and I do, the opportunity to earn a paycheck,” said Jacqueline Posey, who handles public relations for the group. She added that most of the clients have an IQ of 69 or less,and that the laundry facilities processes about 3 million pounds of laundry.

The laundry also provides clients with a paycheck, something that is very important to their self-esteem, both Fleet and Posey say.

“This shows that hard work and perseverance can accomplish anything,” said Representative Jo Bonner, who was present at the ceremony.

Bonner added that while he was a college student, he volunteered at at Partlow State Hospital. “TI worked with some very special people,” said Bonner. “All had a heart of gold. This (the loan) gives everyone an opportunity to hope.”