Tahlequah, Okla. -- The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma will break ground for an Elder Living Center on Friday, September 30, at 4 p.m. The event will be part of the 61st Annual Keetoowah Cherokee Celebration.  


The Elder Living center will be located at the Keetoowah Cherokee Tribal Complex at Keetoowah Circle off West Willis Road just south of the Tahlequah City limits.  The buildings will set west of the UKB Elder Nutrition Center and east of the UKB  Wellness Center.


The UKB project is a joint effort with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Office, along with the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, in cooperation with the City of Tahlequah, and Tahlequah Public Works.


The Elder Living Center will be made up of 30 units; a mix of one bedroom and two bedroom homes which will be built into quadplexes, with one duplex.


“The tribe is grateful for the partnering agencies that have come together with us to provide our elders with homes that are safe and affordable,” said Tim Good Voice, UKB Executive Director of Planning and Development.


There is a beautiful stand of Pecan trees at the site, and Good Voice said every effort would be made to preserve the mighty Pecan trees and build around them.


In addition to the ground breaking, and a myriad of events slated for the weekend, the tribe will also host a ribbon cutting on the John Hair Cultural Center and Museum.