NATCHEZ — The proposal for a satellite senior citizens’ center at North Natchez Park has been put on indefinite hold due to funding delays.

The center, which had a proposed cost of $930,000, was first proposed by the city government in April and would have been located at North Natchez Park. It would have functioned as an extension of the Natchez Senior Citizen Multi-Purpose Center located on Washington Street.

A key part of the proposal, however, was a Community Development Block Grant that would have funded approximately half of the construction.

Community Development Director James Johnston said last week the city did not get the grant.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the project was delayed but not scrapped.

“We will reapply for the grant,” he said.

“We will see other (funding) sources to act as a match rather than using the city’s funds along with the community development funds now that we have more time. It may hold us up a few months or a year, but in the long run it may have served us as well because we will have offset some of the costs with that grant.”

The grant would have required a $477,180 match from the city, $350,000 of which would have been cash and the rest of which would have been in-kind services.

The board of aldermen had previously discussed using the $250,000 in annual community development funds Magnolia Bluffs Casino has committed to paying as part of its lease, but no decision was made.

Natchez Senior Center Executive Director Sabrena Bartley could not be reached for comment Thursday.