Developmental Education Services of Monroe County Inc. broke ground Thursday morning on its new location in Brodheadsville.

DES provides services to families with adult children with intellectual disabilities in Monroe County. Those services include participation in community activities, socialization opportunities, skill retention and employment services.

DES has two locations with one in Stroudsburg and the other at a rented space at 2336 Route 209 in Brodheadsville. The new facility will be built on a 3-acre parcel on Jenna Drive.

“Let’s get some shovels in the ground,” said Denise Summa, the executive director of DES. “What a momentous moment for us. I’m excited to have our own building. I’m excited to have a building we can modify and adapt to the needs of the people we serve. I’m excited Chestnuthill Township to be your new neighbor.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was organized by the Pocono Chamber of Commerce. It was attended by county commissioners David Parker and Sharon Laverdure, Chestnuthill Township Supervisor Chuck Gould, representatives from state Sen. Rosemary Brown’s office and state Rep. Jack Rader’s office, as well as DES board members, staff and participants and their families.

Nancy Parks, from Rader’s office, presented Summa and James Fareri, president of the board of directors for DES, with a plaque in honor of the groundbreaking.

The new building will be 4,500 square feet with 28 parking spots. The project is expected to cost about $1.5 million, Summa said.

“We’re in a really good spot,” she said.

Summa said the company has a good start on its funding. It has been awarded two grants, and has been saving money for the project as well. She also said DES has an engineer and an architect. A general contractor has not been selected yet.

Their next step is to pursue more grants for the project now that they have the land development plan approved by Chestnuthill Township.

Fareri said the infrastructure work for excavation, stormwater basins, sidewalks and sewer will begin this fall. The entire building project will take about 18 months to complete.

“This has been a long process for the center,” he said.

Fareri thanked everyone for attending the event and said they are now in the final process for the building.

“We’re looking for funding to get this building built,” he said. “We’re very optimistic about everything.”

Summa also thanked everyone and said she hopes they will continue to support the project.

“I’m really happy all of you are here, but I hope we can count on your continued support as we go on this journey together,” she said.

In addition to applying for more grants, DES is planning some fundraisers. The first is an ongoing collection of gently worn and new shoes. The shoes can be dropped off at either of the centers in Stroudsburg or Brodheadsville.

DES will be paid for the total weight of the shoes it accumulates, then Funds2Orgs will redistribute the shoes to small business partners in impoverished countries. This give these microenterprises an income and the shoes a second life to people in need.

The second fundraiser is a Tricky Tray at noon on Sept. 21 at East Stroudsburg High School South, 279 N. Courtland St. All proceeds will go toward the cost of the new center in Brodheadsville.

The cost of admission in advance is $20 and $25 at the door. Admission includes a book of 25 tricky tray tickets for base level prizes. Additional tricky tray tickets can be purchased. Base level tickets are $25 for 25 tickets. Midlevel prize tickets are $25 for 20 tickets, and high level prizes are $25 for 15 tickets. Food will also be available to purchase.

For more information about DES and its services, go to devedmc.org or call the administration at 570-424-5410 between 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. All DES centers are licensed annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.