USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer today visited senior living community Pine Haven Care Center to celebrate the grand opening of their new facility, expanding services for local residents.
“USDA strives to help rural communities provide aging populations with safe, affordable housing,” USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer said. “The commitment to this population as well as disabled individuals is important to recognize and USDA was happy to partner with Pine Haven to help make this project a reality.”
Pine Haven Care Center is a skilled nursing facility that provides a continuum of care for elderly and disabled populations through the belief that every person is unique. Whether a short- or long-term stay, Pine Haven provides a diverse mixture of amenities, personal services, and on-site healthcare services, including the 24-bed senior and assisted living facility Evergreen Place and the home-like atmosphere of individual households at Pine Haven Neighborhood.
Pine Haven Care Center previously housed 70 residents in semi-private residential rooms. With the extra space provided by the newly constructed 25,000 square-foot addition, 34 residents were relocated to the new facility, allowing for every resident to have their own private residence.
The new facility also provides space for a number of additional amenities, including: expansion of physical and occupational therapy services; a memory care unit; a new hospice unit; expanded dining and activity space; a new reception area; and new rooftop air-handling units. Originally anticipated to create one new job, the new facility provided Pine Haven with the opportunity to create 9 new positions since completion.
Funding for the project came in the form of a $6,226,000 loan through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities (CF) Direct Loan program.
Rural Development’s CF Direct Loan program finances essential buildings and equipment in rural areas of 20,000 people or less, including hospitals, fire halls, emergency response vehicles, libraries and community centers. Rural Development has invested over $431 million in more than 350 essential community facilities and related equipment for rural communities throughout Minnesota since 2009.
In addition to community facility projects, the agency has programs to improve rural housing, infrastructure, high-speed Internet, business and other economic development projects. To learn more about Rural Development, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn, or call your local Rural Development office in Faribault at (507) 332-7418, ext. 4.