Cedar Rapids mulls $500K donation to Horizons senior center

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids could contribute up to $500,000 toward the Horizons senior center project under a budget proposal presented to city leaders this week.

City Council members earlier this week met to review and discuss the proposed budget for fiscal year 2027. Per the proposal, the city would direct $100,000 each year for five years for Horizons’ Our Place Center for Older Adults.

“Not every project comes from just us,” City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said. “We have partners in the community … and Horizons came to us several years ago with an exciting plan for a center. They’ve done quite a bit of their own fundraising, but the city will also be committing half a million dollars.”

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The contribution is contingent upon the City Council’s approval of the overall fiscal 2027 budget later this spring. Funds would come from the city’s general fund, which covers a wide variety of municipal expenditures.

Once open, the $5.5 million center will fill a service gap left after the Witwer Senior Center was damaged in the 2008 flood and closed. Construction of the new senior center will begin this spring, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

The Our Place Center is expected to take up roughly 13,000 square feet of Horizons’ existing campus at 819 Fifth St. SE to offer a variety of programming for those ages 55 and older, with a focus on social, physical and financial wellness.

Horizons is also receiving $200,000 for the project in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Linn County Board of Supervisors, among with a slew of private donations, including one anonymous gift of $2 million.

To read more about the city of Cedar Rapids’ proposed FY27 budget, check out a report in the Saturday Gazette and online at thegazette.com