ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Civic leaders, elected officials and area medical professionals gathered Monday, March 21 for groundbreaking ceremonies that mark the beginning of a new era for the MR/DD Board Inc. in Robertsdale.

Upon its completion in October, the 4,500-square-foot facility operated by the MR/DD Board Inc., serving Baldwin, Clarke and Washington counties, will be a convenient resource to provide services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“It is wonderful to see so much support from our communities for this new facility,” SAID MR/DD Executive Director Cindy Haber. “We are excited that this important service is becoming a reality. The MR/DD Board is looking forward to continuing our work and providing quality services in the communities we serve.”

The combined financial efforts of the county, state, United Way of Baldwin County and private donations have opened the door for a much-needed, new and improved facility in Baldwin County. The state-of-the-art facility will enable the MR/DD Board to provide much quicker assistance with intake interviews, admission meetings, evaluation and assessments, and team meetings for adults, children, infants and toddlers.

“We recognize this as an investment, not in monetary terms, but in the future of providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Baldwin County,” said Peggy Vanover Barnes, president of MR/DD Board Inc.

The MR/DD Board Inc. provides a variety of much needed services including supported employment opportunities, Project Search job training, early intervention for infants and toddlers, intake for Medicaid waiver services and case management care.

The Board partners with several provider and service agencies in Baldwin County including ARCBC Inc., Dawn House Inc., Volunteers of America Inc., UPC of Mobile Inc., Burrowes Group Residential Facilities Inc., Scott Residential Inc., and Oxford Healthcare Inc.

The MR/DD Board Inc. is a community-based organization which provides for a system of effective and efficient services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Baldwin, Clarke and Washington counties in Alabama. Funding for the MR/DD Board is provided by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, United Way of Baldwin County, Baldwin County government and private donations.