Overview

The City of Decatur and the MERIT Center Board are revitalizing a former elementary. The MERIT Center exists to serve the local and surrounding populations of Adams County. The purpose of this facility is to be a one-stop service center to lift people into new opportunities. Currently, the MERIT Center houses local non-profit offices that all share a goal to help better the community with quality-of-life initiatives. The Adams County Council on Aging Senior Center is one of the organizations housed here and this brings many activities to the space. King’s Kingdom Preschool and Childcare will be housed in a wing of the building, helping to bridge the gap of childcare needs in the community. There are also adult education courses that are continuously being offered at this location. Currently, the Decatur Police Department uses a room for training purposes and there is a vision to expand this in purchasing a virtual simulator. As an old elementary school, the building will need upgrades to be functional. The boilers and chillers in the building need to be replaced. Currently, the parking lot needs resurfacing and repainting of the striping in the parking lot. READI funds will be used for the replacement of the HVAC units. The project will run from 10/23/23-6/12/24. Matching funds from: City of Decatur, Decatur Police Department, Early Learning Indiana, Adams County Community Foundation, Adams County Council on Aging, Connect To Careers, & Adams County.