WSCCC reaches important milestones

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

It has been one year since Western Sky Community Care Center (WSCCC)purchased 40 nursing bed licenses from Perkins County Health Services in Grant with a goal to continue elder care in the community. As of last week, the committee has marked two more milestones in this quest. These are the approval of its 501(c)3 application by the IRS, which establishes them as a non-profit, and the acceptance of their market study by the USDA at both the state and national levels. Both steps are key in securing needed funding for the new care home, according to WSCCC Steering Committee Chairman Mark Bottom.

“An approved market study was a large hurdle,” Bottom said. “This is big news.”

The market study showed a need for skilled nursing care in the area with the closing of PCHS’s convalescent home, Golden Ours, he said.

“In our discussion with the USDA, both parties agreed that a facility with 40 beds was supported by the market study,” he said.

With a new 40-bed facility decided upon, the USDA has directed WSCCC to go forward with submitting its architectural plans and feasibility study, along with scheduling a final town meeting and initiating the construction bid process.

Bottom said the committee is still hopeful to have a ground-breaking ceremony by this fall. However, how much construction will get going this fall is another question, he said.

“The estimated time for construction on the project, from start to finish, is one year,” he said.

Remaining Optimistic

With one year passed of the two-year licensing deadline set by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to show “substantial” progress in reestablishing elder care in Perkins County, the WSCCC steering committee remains optimistic about success as new steps are accomplished, Bottom said. 

“That (DHHS 2-year) timeline is a challenge, and we are working hard to make this happen,” he said. “In a project this size, a lot of wheels are in motion and some aspects take longer than others.”

The committee will now finalize the loan application with USDA, with much of what is still required already underway, Bottom said.

Securing More Funding

Along with completing their application, another major next step will be to secure more funding to meet a USDA requirement of having cash-on-hand when the nursing home opens. WSCCC will continue fundraising efforts to add to the $1.4 million that has already so generously been donated by the community, Bottom said.

As the process of fundraising continues, the committee will transition from a fiscal sponsorship agreement to being recognized as having its own independent nonprofit, tax exempt status. The effective date of the 501(c)3 status, as determined by the IRS, is August 23, 2023.

“During this interim time we will be working with our attorneys and CPAs to make sure we get paperwork filed with the State of Nebraska, with our bank and with our fiscal sponsorship partner” to solidify our non-profit status, Bottom said.

Thank You for Your
Continued Support

Bottom thanks those who have been so dedicated to supporting the committee’s efforts thus far, saying the community has shown great generosity. 

“Taking care of those who have given the most to our communities is the right thing to do, on so many levels,” he said. “Please continue to support us in whatever ways you can. We can do this.”

Those wanting to give donations can do so at Pinnacle Bank, in care of WSCCC, or reach out to any of the five steering committee members: Mark and Renae Bottom, Steve and Chris Loeffler, and Genie Bishop. Also, be looking for more information about a future fundraising event being planned by the committee for this fall.