What was expected to be a major contributor to the bill, a capital campaign, never really got off the ground, officials said.

But, once the Hermitage center is open, the agency again will look for financial contributions.

"People like to look at a finished product," said Ann Marie Spiardi, agency chief executive officer.

The agency had named a chairwoman of the capital campaign, Ruthanne Beighley George, and held at least one social engagement in an attempt to sway potential donors.

But the agency could never muster a "big kick" from a company to pledge a significant amount of money, which acts as a challenge to other companies, said Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton, an agency board member.

"We'll get it off here one of these days, maybe with the opening," he said.

Some donations have come in, including $150,000 from the Department of Aging, $5,000 from Mercer County commissioners, $290,000 from a Community Development Block Grant from the county, $100,000 in CDBG funds from Hermitage and $25,000 from Wheatland.

Ms. Spiardi said Sharon and Sharpsville also are expected to turn over CDBG funds.

The agency started holding bingo games to raise money for the center, but the "early birds," "hogs" and "pigs" are not bringing in "any great money," Ms. Spiardi said.

The bingo proceeds are still paying back a $20,000 start-up loan from the agency.

The games start at 4 p.m. Tuesdays at the Shenango Valley Civic Center, Sharon, and officials have discussed moving them into the new center.

Mercer County Commissioner Olivia Lazor, an agency board member, said she thinks the games will eventually be moved there, but noted there are issues to resolve before that can happen, chief among them the fact the agency does not own the bingo equipment it uses.

She added that she would want all the other services at the center -- such as geriatric health care and licensed adult day-care -- established before they consider moving bingo.

"You don't want to disrupt the flow of clients," she said. "The prime interest right now is we get the seniors in there and get them comfortable."