[KHTS] – Los Angeles County plans to set at least $3 million aside for a new SCV Senior Center, a spokesman for Supervisor Michael Antonovich said Thursday.

Supervisors approved $2.5 million in funding at their weekly meeting Tuesday in Los Angeles, said Tony Bell.

Another $500,000 is expected to be allocated in January, when budgets are re-evaluated, he said.

No deal has been finalized on a new location for the center, according to SCV Senior Center officials. However, a recently conducted needs assessment helped narrow down the list of potential sites, officials said.

Santa Clarita Valley Committee on Aging officials were “thrilled” by the county’s move, said Peggy Rasmussen, chair of the committee’s governing board.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” she said, “because it’s a facility that needs a lot of work and we’re working diligently at it.”

The growing senior demographic and future projections have created an increasing need for a new center, she added.

While the county agenda listed the Senior Center item in its agenda as “costs associated with the refurbishment of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center,” the money is expected to be a big help in the center’s efforts for a new site, Rasmussen said.

The talks have focused around plans for a 32,000 square foot building on about 2.5 acres for the new facility, according to Bell.

The needs assessment looked at everything from what amenities might be sought by seniors to the convenience of the location with respect to demographics and even parking.

Rasmussen praised the support the center has received from the county and from its partnership with the city of Santa Clarita.

The city also  is expected to contribute a significant amount to the new center, according to sources.

A project has not yet been brought to city of Santa Clarita officials for approvals, yet, according to city officials.

Planning officials confirmed in August they have assisted with zoning inquiries for an undeveloped lot near the northeast corner of Newhall Ranch Road and Golden Valley Road, where the future connection of Golden Valley Road would go out to Plum Canyon,

A second site in Valencia near Decoro Drive and McBean Parkway also made the short list of contenders, officials said.

SCV Senior Center officials hope to be in a new facility within five years, according to Rachelle Dardeau, the center’s executive director, in a recent interview.

In addition to the support from the county and city, the center also is turning to the community in the push for a new center, Rasmussen said.

“We still will go to a capital campaign because we want to be able to build something to sustain us for years to come,” she said. “With the growth and the growing demographics of the senior population in our valley, it should be a very active building.”