Iola project may create 20-25 jobs
By Holly Neumann
Greg Loeser spoke to the Iola Village Board at its April 9 meeting about a proposed 24-bed Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) for Iola Living Assistance (ILA).
The new facility would be located west of Iola Living Oaks, and is expected to create 20-25 jobs and generate more than $400,000 in income.
“Prior to this ILA had talked about replacing the current skilled nursing facility with a new one and turning the old building into a CBRF,” said Greg Loeser. “That plan did not come to fruition as the cost went way up.”
Last spring, the ILA board decided to scrap that idea.
“Part of that plan, was to have a plan B, and to have a CDRF,” Loeser said. “With the CBFR we can take care of people that need memory care. This is a piece of the continuum that has always been missing.”
The new facility would have an 8-bed secured memory care unit.
According to a report from Nicole Barrett, CEO/Administrator of Iola Living Assistance, their goal for 2018 is to continue to practice their mission statement and provide a high quality service to community members.
The building would be 20,000-square-feet and is expected to cost $3.7 million. A capital campaign will be started later this year to raise funds.
The current road and also utilities would have to be extended to the facility.
Loeser noted that when Living Oaks was put in, the Village received a grant to extend a road. He asked the board to consider applying for this type of grant once again.
The hope is to get this project far enough down the line so that it would be enclosed by November or December of 2018 and contractor can then begin working on the inside.
Loeser noted that Iola Living Assistance will continue to work as a 50 bed skilled nursing facility.
Anyone with questions or concerns about the project is encouraged to contact Barrett or Heather Berg at 715-445-2412.
In other business, the board unanimously adopted a resolution to borrow up to $400,000 from Bank First National to renovate and expand the Iola Village Library.
The library would be responsible for paying back this loan.
The project has already received approximately $150,000 in donations.