VALLEY – Circle of Care will be on the move in 2019.

Jonathan Herston, Circle of Care executive director, said the organization is outgrowing its current building, located at 2200 35th Place in Valley and has recently purchased a building in the Valley Medical Park.

“We have been in this building since 1996 — since we started the family resource center,” Herston said. “Since 1996, there have been changes in needs and programs to meet those needs. For several years, we have had this space fully utilized and haven’t been able to add new programs.”

Since that time, Circle of Care has been using proven research to provide education, resources and support to help families in the Chambers County and Greater Valley Area become stronger, healthier and happier, according to its website.

Herston said the move isn’t necessarily about providing new programs to the community, but about being able to adapt to the changing needs of the community.  The organization was able to purchase the property after the Chambers County Development Authority granted funds to Circle of Care as a community development project with a workforce development focus.

Circle of Care has already made workforce development a priority within Chambers County by helping individuals obtain their GED certificate or by making sure employees have reliable transportation to work.

Herston said the majority of Circle of Care’s funding comes from state and federal dollars through grants. However, because of the way the grants are written, the money cannot be used to purchase property — only to rent or lease.

The $125,000 grant from the development authority allowed Circle of Care to purchase the 1,000-square-foot former medical facility and doctor’s office as its new home. Herston said the facility will give the organization a bit more space to continue what it’s doing with families as a counseling service, but also as a business incubator space for startups.

Even though the organization will be in a new facility, the need for more funds still remains.

Herston said it’s going to cost about $380,000 to upgrade the new building before moving in. He said the building needs a new roof, HVAC system and updates to the restrooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Those are the three big-ticket items that need to be taken care of,” he said. “If we can get those things taken care of, we can move in — even if it’s not everything we dreamed of.”

Herston said the organization has written grants for about $300,000, but has about a $60,000 to $80,000 gap between funds. Now, it’s a just a waiting game to see if funds are awarded, he said.

To counteract the deficit, Circle of Care is launching its Care Campaign Saturday, Dec. 1. The organization is looking for 100 people to pledge between $1 and $100 a month for 12 months.

To donate, visit www.thecirclecares.com and click the donate button.