photo by: Bremen Keasey

Part of the facilities for CLO, a part of Goodlife Solutions, in Lawrence at 2113 Delaware St. The nonprofit group received state tax credits it can give to donors to help fundraise for a facility that will help adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral issues.

A Lawrence social service provider received $162,000 in state tax credits that it will use to help fundraise for a day care home for adults with developmental disabilities.

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced in a press release Wednesday it awarded $4.1 million through its Community Service Tax Credit Program (CSP) to various nonprofit organizations across the state. That list included Community Living Opportunities Inc., which operates a variety of programs that assist adults with developmental disabilities.

The funding CLO received means it can offer tax credits to donors who make contributions toward approved projects. Organizations in rural areas with populations less than 15,000 can receive a 70% credit, while communities with more than 15,000 people can receive a 50% credit.

Amy Unmacht, the director of development for Goodlife Innovations which is the parent organization of CLO, said this money will help propel the fundraising efforts of launching a specialized health facility for people with disabilities that will be located between Lawrence and Eudora.

Plans have been in the works since last year to use the former Kaw Valley School building at 1411 East 1850 Road to be a day care home for adults with developmental disabilities, as the Journal-World reported. Proposed updates to the site include adding an art classroom, a music classroom, a study classroom and a media classroom. Additionally, the old gymnasium space at the school would be converted into a large multipurpose area.

Unmacht said having the state tax credits pretty much doubles the potential for fundraising, making it more likely that individuals provide larger gifts and bringing the potential for more corporate donors to chip in as well.

Unmacht said the center, which will partner with the University of Kansas, will have trained mental health professionals help individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral health issues learn skills to allow them to better participate with others and be a part of the community. Additionally, the center will include training for first responders like policemen and firefighters so they can have better knowledge of how to interact with those individuals.

CLO and Goodlife Solutions was the only Douglas County-based program that earned the CSP tax credits this year. The group will be able to use those credits during the fiscal year 2026, which started July 1. Previously, the Ballard Center earned that award in fiscal year 2022.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The former Kaw Valley School property at 1411 East 1850 Road is pictured on April 30, 2024.