LOXLEY, Ala. —There will be a little hoopla in Robertsdale Jan. 20 as the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County breaks ground on a new facility in the Robertsdale Industrial Park.

“The project is multifaceted,” explained Eddie Culpepper, the building’s project manager. Culpepper, president of PageGuide Inc. of Birmingham, has been working on the new building’s plans and will be project manager for $5-million, 33,000 square-foot structure that will serve as the ARC’s new training center, part of their laundry facility (ARCBC provides clean linen to area condos and other institutions) and an emergency shelter for 428 individuals. Culpepper estimated that it would take 12 to 14 months to complete the building. He also said in a later e-mail that his company has been responsible for bringing, “close to 20 Million dollars in FEMA Grants and 5.6 Million in USDA Loans to Baldwin County organizations since 2004.”

The building, which will be built to “FEMA 361” specifications, according to Culpepper, will be paid for by two federal agencies, FEMA, through AEMA (Alabama Emergency Management Agency) and the United States Department of Agriculture - Rural Development agency. Part of the money comes from a 40-year loan by the latter orginaiztion.

It is estimated that the ARCBC processes around 3 million pounds of laundry. The new building will replace some of the facilities currently in Loxley, but ARCBC will maintain an office in Loxley.

Besides useful work and job training, the laundry also provides indviduals it serves with a paycheck, something that is very important to their self-esteem, Kathy Fleet, the executive director of ARCBC says.

“This will be one of the first new shelters (built for the mentally handicapped) on the Gulf Coast,” Fleet said. “It will be a model and a showcase for other areas.”

The building, designed by Adams Stewart Architects, LLC of Robertsdale, will be a handsome brick building. Construction will be by Vance McCown of Mobile.

While the building is a big step for ARCBC, Fleet is especially looking forward to having a place where indviduals and their caregivers can shelter. She recalls vividly that during Hurricane Ivan, she and other ARCBC workers took people served by ARCBC to safety in Tuscloosa.

“It took us eight hours,” said Fleet. She added that people with special needs often do not react well to changes in environment and routine, so being able to keep indviduals safe in a familiar setting would be a win for all parties.

“Remember, there is a lot of liability in transporting 95-plus people,” said Fleet. “I don’t know if there is a dollar figure on being able to keep them in the county.”

Being able to expand the laundry facilities means more will have work and Fleet is excited at the thought of having a more modern training facility.

“It give people the opportunity for vocational training and for indviduals to earn wages,” said Fleet.

The money will also help the ARCBC.

“The (money earned from) the laundry subsidizes our operating budget,” said Fleet. “It allows us to provide more services.”