ACI opens new state-of-the-art facility in Newport

The Arkansas Center for Independence (ACI) recently completed construction of a $2.5 million-dollar state-of-the-art facility in Newport.

Located at 200 Ray St. on a little over two and a half acres, the 8,750-square-foot building is located next to the WRMC Medical Complex.

“We are so excited to be in our new facility,” ACI Executive Director Glenda Rutledge-May said in a media release announcing the opening. “We could not have made it here without the support of the entire community, and especially Cindy Ward and the Jane Parnell estate.”

An open house for the new facility will be held on Wednesday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tours of the new facility will be offered, and the M & P Grill Team of Newport will be cooking hot dogs and hamburgers.

“We have worked long and hard to finally see this project come to fruition,” said Rutledge-May. “Anyone that had a chance to visit our old location will understand how significant of a milestone this new location and building are for our staff and clients. The building we were in was crumbling around us. The heat and air had gone out, and we were limping through until we could make it into this gorgeous new building which now provides a safe and healthy environment for the people we serve.”

ACI, formerly known as the Jackson County Learning Center, was founded in 1959. In that same year, the organization’s building was constructed out of concrete blocks. It was expanded in sections over a period of years and served as the primary day facility for adults with Intellectual Development Disabilities (IDD).

The non-profit was located northeast of Newport near the air base in what is now referred to today as the industrial district.

“Our previous location (pictured above) was on the outskirts of town, and few people even knew the company existed. The organization and the clients we served were ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind,’” said Glenda Moody, ACI’s director of finance. “We now have this eye-catching facility in the heart of town that will not easily be ignored. People will look at it and be reminded daily of the people we serve and the work we are doing.”

The new facility on Ray Street now serves as ACI’s primary headquarters and boasts an exceptional environment for the organization to provide advanced training resources and life skills coaching through the center-based day program for adults with IDD.

The facility features four classrooms, all of which include smart boards for interactive, enhanced learning. Two of the rooms are traditional classrooms where individuals will learn basic vocational and daily life skills. The third classroom, known as the household skills room, is a mock-up of a small apartment to help clients develop, maintain, and improve daily independent living skills. The center’s fourth classroom features a computer lab that will allow clients to learn basic computer skills, internet safety, and beginner graphic design and product development.

“The increase of classroom space has allowed us to provide substantial versatility and flexibility to each of these specialized classrooms, which adds an additional layer of support to help our adults with IDD achieve their living, educational, and employment goals,” said Rutledge-May.

If clients become over-stimulated and need to decompress or just want to sit and read in a quiet space, they will be able to utilize the Pat Fisher Library, workout in the fitness center, or shoot hoops in the facility’s indoor half-court basketball gymnasium and multipurpose room, the release said.

“This building is a significant new era for ACI – the amenities that this new facility offer has placed the organization in a position to increase its efficiencies and provide more accessible services not only to the clients, but new opportunities to service the community as well,” said ACI Business Development Director Darah Rounds.

The new ACI building also boasts a full-service commercial kitchen adjacent to the multipurpose room, both of which could be used for community events.

It has also allowed the organization to significantly upgrade its security and IT infrastructure to provide a more secure learning environment and future growth of the organization.

“In our former location that was near the county jail and prisons, our building did not have the capability of being locked down or monitored remotely during a security threat,” said ACI Program Director Kristie Moody. “Through our new electronic access control locks, we now have peace of mind knowing we can ensure a safe haven for our clients through the technology we’ve been able to incorporate.”

Since 2012, the center has increased the number of people served by 68% and doubled the number of residential group homes the organization owns and operates. The nonprofit has also been able to replace all of their older homes with larger residences, in safer neighborhoods, to provide better living arrangements for their clients. During this time, the growth has led to 15 new jobs being added to the Newport community with additional direct support professionals still needing to be hired today for the group homes.

ACI has always been looking toward the future while planning the construction of the new day facility.

“There has been a long-standing wait list in the state for individuals with IDD who need and want services; however, the funding wasn’t available,” said Rutledge-May. “Over the past several years, the state legislation has worked hard to find additional revenue to eliminate the wait for those individuals. Next year, approximately 3,000 individuals who are currently on the waitlist will be allowed to begin receiving services from a licensed DD provider, and ACI is poised to have the facilities to be able to serve some of those individuals. The new facility and additional group homes will allow ACI the opportunity further expand by as much as 200% and add even more jobs to the community.”

“When you have a new facility, it opens up opportunities for growth and to provide new experiences and programs for the people you serve,” said May. “As we continue to grow, we are already planning for the next phase of this organization and future expansion. This doesn’t come without costs, though. We will continue to raise funds for the foreseeable future in order to prepare for future expansions.”

ACI is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Donations may be tax deductible.

For more information on ACI, employment opportunities, or services for a loved one, please call (870) 523-8488.

Images: ACI