Last week at the west-end Co-op, the Assisted Living project, that's working toward the construction of Dufferin Villa, had a table set up to receive donations for its Journey to $500,000 fundraiser.

Board Chair Al Braun gives us an update on how they're doing.

"The Community Foundation of Portage and District kicked that off for us some time ago by giving us a very sizable donation for the project," says Braun. "The Foundation had its goal to give a $250,000 grant to an organization as an Impact Grant."

Braun notes they feel the fundraising effort is going great, and are near the $400,000 mark as of this date.

"We are continuing to invite people to participate in the fundraising project at this time, continues Braun. "This project has generated a lot of interest in the community. We have had, I believe it was, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 170 people indicate that they have an interest in being part of this project, whether it is to move in immediately or at some time in the future."

Braun says they do not have the capacity to accommodate all of these people, noting the number of units will total 53. He says the interest is showing how important the project is to the community, and how this is something the city wants.

It's a very large project, and the group is working with Canada Mortgage and Housing on the financing. Braun notes the program they're accessing for the mortgage is a co-investment model, which requires the community to put forth some funds to indicate how important it is, and how great a need it is to the people of Portage.

Braun adds they completed their drawings and are tendering the project to get a final cost, which will be a fixed-priced contract. He notes this means what the final cost will be. He says, though subject to change, they anticipate to break ground this coming early spring.