FAQ of the week:
Q: Why did CLI buy a bowling alley and what are CLI's plans for it?
A: CLI earns our money on a "fee-for-service" basis. This means that we only get paid when we deliver a specific service-- such as a ride to work, 15 minutes of day or employment services, etc. CLI always spends more money than we bring in during winter months. This is because there are fewer "billable" days in November & December because of the holidays. Our major expenses are the same however-- such as payroll & health insurance-- because full-time positions offer paid time off & other year-round benefits. Bad weather & snow days are also a pretty significant problem. Pre-pandemic, we estimated that every snow day cost more than $5,000 of lost revenue without a corresponding drop in expenses. Like most DD service providers, CLI operates on an extremely thin margin. One of our strategic goals is to increase & diversify our sources of revenue. This is important not just so that we can stay in business, but also so that we can continue our progress toward improving the quality of life of people with DD, those who support people with DD, and the larger community.
Whenever possible, CLI strives to invest our resources in ways that have the potential to benefit all 3 of those targets-- our clients, our staff, and our communities. CLI purchased Kenilee Lanes in 2018 because the bowling alley traditionally had gross receipts of approximately $100,000-- earned between November - March each year. CLI's regular programs typically spent approximately that amount more than we earned over that same 5 month period of time. We also were excited to have direct access to the bowling community. CLI has lots of clients who like to bowl and we've built lots of new connections thanks to both our immersion in Kenilee Lanes groups-- and because of being able to use this new space to partner with other community members. Finally-- CLI recognizes our responsibility as a member of Norwalk's Business Community. When CLI buys an older property, we not only adapt it to be wheelchair accessible so that we can use it for programs-- we also are careful to a improve the property so that it adds value to it in ways that is easily realized by the larger public.
Our plans for Kenilee Lanes are to make it fully wheelchair accessible on the first floor-- including the kitchen. Thanks to grants, fundraisers, and the estate of Bill Pietz (who we will feature in a future newsletter)-- CLI has so far raised more than $60,000 so that we can plan for the interior renovations after leagues are done in the spring. However, we still need at least another $60,000 to upgrade the facade-- including large windows to open up the entire interior to Seminary Street. Once this is done-- it is CLI's intent to work to make Kenilee even more of a gathering place for all sorts of reasons, not just bowling.
