The Mayflower Community, Grinnell, Iowa has been awarded a $300,000 USDA Rural Economic Development Grant (REDG) loan, designated by the T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative of Brooklyn, Iowa. T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative applied to the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and was granted the $300,000 to make a zero-interest loan to Mayflower Community. T.I.P. REC’s board of directors added $60,000 in matching funds required by USDA to fund the $360,000 loan.
The loan request was written by Mayflower’s Associate Director/Administrator, Kellie McGriff, BSN, RN, NHA, with support from Chief Financial Officer, Pam Vosburg, CPA. The proceeds will be used for the completion of the Beebe Assisted Living Open Dining project, which will provide a self-contained preparation and serving kitchen for the 20-apartment building. Residents will be able to dine at any time of the day, choosing items from a broad menu that will change daily. In addition, an outdoor patio will be added on the south side of the building, with access from the main dining room.
Beebe Assisted Living is a 17,000 square foot, two-story facility that will be renovated to meet enhanced regulatory requirements for assisted living and to improve safety and quality of life amenities. The loan will help Mayflower develop a full service, 340 square-foot kitchen; install a sprinkler system on the second floor; create a blown-fiberglass fire barrier between floors; add a 211 square-foot office; build a new 521 square-foot resident apartment; and develop two outdoor living, dining and entertainment spaces.
McGriff continues, “Mayflower is committed to providing dedicated and integrated spaces for health and well-being services on its campus, educational programs for residents and staff, training space for employees, and business space for healthcare entrepreneurs. Plans are in place to construct these elements of new well-being space: 598 square-foot Salon, 742 square-foot Therapy Clinic (Physical, Occupational, Speech, Cranio-sacral, Acupuncture), 381 square-foot Spa (Massage and Meditation), 1,000 square-foot Fitness Studio, and 1,000 square-foot Strength and Cardiovascular Equipment Room.”
The Beebe Assisted Living Open Dining project work began in October 2020 and will be completed with the assistance of the REDG loan from T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative. The estimated cost of the Beebe patio and courtyard and the Beebe cooking and serving kitchen is $584,000. Numerous donors have contributed to this project.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development accepts applications for projects that promote economic development and job creation in rural areas.
Pictured during the check presentation are: Front left to right: Kellie McGriff, Associate Director/Administrator, Mayflower Community, Pam Vosburg, Chief Financial Officer, Mayflower Community, Theresa Pagliai, President, Mayflower Board of Trustees, and Dean Huls, General Manager, T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative. Back left to right: Gene Von Ahsen, Board President, T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative, Steve Langerud, Executive Director, Mayflower Community, and Bruce Nuzum, Chief Executive Officer, Iowa Area Development Group.
— Steve Langerud, Mayflower Executive Director
