A $1 million state grant will help an area nonprofit expand its mission to help young people dealing with developmental disorders and disabilities.
Leg Up Farm, a planned 110,000-square foot facility in East Manchester Township, recently secured the money through Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program (RACP).
The grant, which comes in addition to $5.6 million in long-term loans from USDA Rural Development and York Traditions Bank, allows Leg Up to build an indoor riding arena and horse barn to complement its main therapeutic facility.
"I'm speechless," said owner Lou Castriota Jr., who had been planning the center for 12 years before breaking ground at the beginning of August. "The vision that we set out to achieve is coming to fruition completely, with all aspects of the program that we wanted to offer."
Services: Leg Up Farm will make rehabilitation, education and advocacy services available for children with developmental issues and their families. In addition to physical, occupational and speech therapy, the facility will offer horse-assisted activities and art and farming programs.
Autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and many other conditions will be treated. Leg Up officials believe they'll be able to serve more than 1,000 children in the facility's first three years of operation.
The first phase of the project calls for construction of the main 16,500-square-foot therapy building. Crews will build the arens and barn during the second phase.
Both phases are scheduled to finish in May 2010, Castriota said.
"All of the pieces of the puzzle have come together," he said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Celebration
Leg Up Farm is holding a groundbreaking celebration at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at 4880 N. Sherman St. in East Manchester Township. Guests are asked to RSVP by e-mailing
info@legupfarm.org or calling 843-8341.
Refreshments will be served at nearby Starview United Church of Christ.
By PETER MERGENTHALER,
The York Dispatch