Hospice of Washington County recently received a final major boost of funding to help them complete the demolition of their former office building and implement flood mitigation strategies at its location.

The non-profit organization is receiving an approximate $60,000 Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship grant which will cover half the cost of demolishing the former building that sits in a floodplain and create a bioswale to control stormwater runoff. Hospice Executive Director Katrina Altenhofen says work will begin after April 1st, which will include soil restoration for what was affected during the construction of their new building as well as landscaping to integrate native grasses and plants and create a possible “prayer labyrinth” for clients and families to enjoy, “We’re a $1.3 million project and we’re probably around that 100,000 shy of making this completely debt free, which last night was our board meeting and we all just sat there and were astounded at the fact of how wonderful and generous again this community is.”

Altenhofen looks forward to hosting a celebration once the entire project is completed in mid to late June to welcome the public to their new facility which they moved into in late January. Hospice helps sustain their cost-free services to clients with fundraisers such as their Spring Trivia event happening Friday, March 25th at Dallmeyer Hall at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Information to register is included in this story at kciiradio.com.