ROME TOWNSHIP — The proposed senior housing project in the eastern end got a possible $50,000 boost from the Lawrence County Commissioners.

The county has agreed to invest up to $25,000 of its 2015 and $25,000 of its 2016 Community Development Block Grants funding to the proposal by Pirhl Developers to build a 40-to-45-unit senior living complex.

The complex will be built on land across from Fairland East Elementary School and adjacent to the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization/St. Mary’s Medical Center modular health clinics.

“That is a federal grant,” Commission President Bill Pratt said. “It is not money we can spend in any other way. It is an easy way for us to do this and not allocate money out of the general fund.”

The community buildings at Washington and Symmes townships were paid for with CDBG.

“We have asked the developer that they include a senior center that is opened to the public in their design,” Pratt said. “That money will help with equipment for the kitchen, coolers, so we can have a satellite senior center where we can have prepared meals for seniors.”

In January the commissioners approved $100,000 in CDBG funds to help with a sanitary sewer line expansion to the project and possible subsequent developments in the area.

To provide that service, the current line from the Union-Rome Sewer System to the proposed site must be extended about 7,500 feet.

“That is the same situation where we can use it because it is for a senior project,” Pratt said. “We have made the commitment but that won’t happen if the project doesn’t go through.”

That money will come from the 2014 CDBG funding.

“The seniors in the eastern end of the county have no facility for housing and … this ensures those residents have senior housing,” Pratt said. “It highlights our commitment to seniors in the county.”