NEW SOBERING CENTER BREAKS GROUND IN GRANTS PASS

GRANTS PASS, Ore.— October 7, 2015 – The Grants Pass Sobering Center’s new 4,500-square-foot facility planned to become operational by February 2016. 

Local dignitaries, elected officials and other key supporters will join together on Thursday, October 8^th at 9:30am, to mark the start of the construction phase on the new 4,500-square-foot Sobering Center facility in Grants Pass.

The 4^th sobering center in Oregon, the Grants Pass Sobering Center will serve as an alternative to jail for people detained by police for public intoxication.  With an anticipated cost to operate of less than half of that required to operate a jail, it will also provide a safe environment to regain sobriety and an opportunity to introduce paths to treatment and recovery – things not currently offered in a jail.  The total cost of the development has come in under budget at approximately $990,000, which is just one third of the normal cost of a jail facility, per square foot.

The concept began in 2013 when a handful of local public and private stakeholders gathered to find solutions to vagrancy and, more specifically, public intoxication.  With a capping donation received this week, all building and site development costs have been raised.   State Representatives Duane Stark and Carl Wilson cleared the way earlier this month by spearheading a bill important to the operation of a standalone sobering center.  The Bill was signed into law by Governor Brown earlier this month.   Major financial contributors include City of Grants Pass, State of Oregon, AllCare Health, and Ausland Group. Other financial supporters include Evergreen Bank, and Asante, Primary Health, Options, LADPC, Four Way Foundation and the Atkins Family.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced such a diverse and tenacious group of public and private stakeholders work together in harmony for a community,” says Aaron Ausland, CEO of Ausland Group.  “This is a very complex project that has been met with adversity at many turns – yet the partners stayed the course, knowing how important this is for the future of Grants Pass.”

The Grants Pass Sobering Center facility is located at 1010 SW Foundry Street, Grants Pass, Oregon.

Ausland offers complete capital improvement expertise in development consulting, engineering and construction. For more information visit us at www.auslandgroup.com.