Glenhaven, Inc. breaks ground on new addition and renovations

GLENWOOD CITY – Glenhaven Inc. held a ground breaking cermeony on April 5 to mark the commencement of  construction on a new addition and rennovations to the 55 year-old muncipal nursing facility serving Glenwood City, Wis. and surrounding communities.

Currently, Glenhaven Inc. has a 44-bed skilled nursing facility that will be transferred to the new addition, and the building will be converted into a new 16-unit Community Based Residential Facility to take its place.

The USDA Rural Development approved funding through its Community Facilities program for the project.  Glenhaven, Inc. recieved a direct loan from USDA Rural Development for $6,750,000 and a $2,500,000 guaranteed loan provided by AgStar Financial Services.

“Glenhaven Inc. has established a strong reputation in northwest Wisconsin for providing a high level of care and skilled services to the residents of their facility.  They are a worthy recipient of the resources and support Rural Development is providing,” said USDA Rural Development State Director, Stan Gruszynski.  “Quality hospitals, schools and libraries are the building blocks for a vibrant rural America and partnering together on this critical community asset reflects the commitment of local leaders to see this project through.”

The completion of the $9.65 million dollar project will enable Glenhaven, Inc. to maintain the delivery of quality healthcare for residents located in the fastest growing rural region of Wisconsin.

“AgStar is proud to partner with USDA Rural Development and Glenhaven to replace and upgrade the skilled nursing and assisted living facility.  The new facility will allow staff to continue providing exceptional resident care for seniors, which is crucial for aging rural communities”, explained Bob Madsen, Associate Vice President at AgStar Financial Services.  “AgStar is excited for the opportunity to be involved in this project, alongside the many AgStar clients living in this community.”

Also partnering on the project is Royal Construction, a design build contractor specializing in commercial construction in Eau Claire, Wis. Royal Construction has been a key player in moving the expansion and upgrade project forward.

“We are very excited to help make this project become a reality,” said Tim Pabich, President of Royal Construction, Inc., in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. “Our team, along with Glenhaven Inc., AgStar, and USDA Rural Development have worked together for the last year to accomplish what we see as a cornerstone for the Community for years to come by continuing to provide health care, along with a state of the art therapy center, and additional amenities in the future.”

Since fiscal year 2009, USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program has helped an estimated 30 million rural Americans address essential challenges in health care, education, public service and public safety by financing projects through loans, grants, or loan guarantees.

Over the past year, USDA Rural Development invested nearly $828 million throughout rural Wisconsin and helped a record number of residents receive funding for economic development projects and quality of life improvements. The agency’s investment in Wisconsin helped create or retain an estimated 1,400 jobs; aided 3,500 families in buying their own homes; and assisted more than 100 communities in improving community facilities and upgrading local infrastructure.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $181 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration – the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $700 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible.