St. Andrew’s Village is one step closer to becoming a reality thanks to some financial support from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Representatives from St. Andrew’s Village and the USDA gathered Thursday morning at the Abita Springs Town Hall, where papers were signed on a $92,000 grant for the non-profit organization.

Patterned after successful developments in other states, St. Andrew’s Village is a faith-based community designed to provide developmentally disabled adults a place to live independently of their parents. Plans include both residential and commercial development on a 100-acre parcel located of Louisiana Highway 36 in Abita Springs. The development will be focused around a town center and will include an amphitheater, a recreational facility; contract work facilities; commercial businesses, where the residents can work; a restaurant; a medical facility; agricultural fields; and a chapel. Surrounding the town center will be residences for the “villagers.”

The “villagers” will be given the opportunity to learn trades and work skills and will receive assistance in finding jobs both on and off site.

The USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant will provide much of the funding needed for the pre-site planning, which is estimated to cost $137,000.

Judy Meche, business and cooperative specialist for the USDA, said these grants are designed to facilitate small businesses by creating or saving jobs. St. Andrew’s Village qualifies for the grant because it will be using the money to pay for architectural fees to design buildings where job training will occur for adults with development disabilities.

Donna Breaux, executive director for St. Andrew’s Village, said some of the money would also be used to reach out to local businesses as the group begins partnering with them to assist with hiring adults with development disabilities.

In addition to the money the group has received from individual and corporate donors, the group also received a $20,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank.

St. Andrew’s Village is also applying for a $10 million grant from the USDA through its Community Facilities program. This loan would provide most of the $12.5 million needed to construct phase one.

Breaux said she should find out about that loan in early 2010 and hopes to begin construction some time next year.

The group has several fundraising opportunities in the near future.

It will hold a golf tournament at English Turn Golf and Country Club on Oct. 26 and a gala at the Cricket Club in New Orleans on Nov. 27 and will raffle off Sugar Bowl tickets.

For more information about these events or to find out more about St. Andrew’s Village, visit the groups Web site at www. saintandrewsvillage.org.