COLBY -- Federal stimulus money will help build a 24-unit housing complex for people 55 years or older in Colby.

"We hope to break ground in December," said Mike Olson, senior vice-president of CAP Services Inc., a non-profit agency based in Stevens Point dedicated to community development.

The Colby project, costing $2.06 million, is the 15th housing development CAP has created and will own and manage, Olson said.

"There's going to be three separate buildings which will provide more elderly housing in the community. What's nice about this is that it is close to the (medical) clinic," said Jim Schmidt, Colby mayor.

Colby has two assisted living centers, but nothing that is geared toward the population that can live independently, Schmidt said.

The money was directed to the Colby project through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to create affordable housing for senior citizens.

It will create jobs in the community through the construction phase and later one person will be hired to manage and care for the facility, said Olson.