Rae Nicely

Lehigh Acres will have its own building to house Lehigh Community Services and the United Way House, thanks to an Obama administration grant of $400,000 of federal stimulus money that has trickled down from the state to the counties.

The money would go toward buying and remodeling a building to house the non-profit agency that helps people in Lehigh with food and some utility bills.

The announcement came from the Lee County Commission which voted today to take a part of the stimulus money package the county is receiving and grant it to Lehigh for the rehabilitation of a empty building in the community and move its office there.

At present, Lehigh Community Services is located at 9 Beth Stacey Blvd. in a building leased for a nominal fee from the Community Health Association, also known as CHA.

“I’m really excited with the news,” said Rae Nicely, the agency’s executive director. She said Lehigh Communty Services is running out of room and needs more space. She noted that the agency is also the Lehigh site for the United Way House, and a location for budget workshops, a place where people can apply for food stamps and jobless benefits and also where Team Lehigh meets.

The award of $400,000 couldn’t come at a better time, Nicely said. While they pay a very small fee now to rent the offices on Beth Stacey Blvd., she said CHA has told her the rent would be going up to $645 in August and next year, to $1,330, Nicely said.

Lehigh Community Services must find a building that has been vacant for at least 90 days, according to the grant’s guidelines. Funds can only be used to expand an existing service center.

Nicely said her agency is operated by a board of directors of about 10 members. A committee has already been formed and led by Fred Elliott to look for a place.

“The facility has to be in the Weed & Seed Core area,” Nicely said. “That means anywhere from out 23rd and Leonard Blvd. areas back to the core of Lehigh including parts of Lee Blvd. and Homestead Rd.

She said if anyone in Lehigh has office space that includes at least 3,000 square feet, they should notify her or Fred Elliott.

“We’ll take a look at all the offers we get. We’re ready to get started on this right now,” she said.

Nicely must find the site and have a contract with plans for its remodeling by Sept. 3.