​

Spearville Senior Living Inc. recently received the good news it had been eagerly awaiting, said Ron Temaat, SSL Board of Directors chairman.
United States Department of Agriculture-Rural Development has approved SSL’s application and awarded $4 million in funding for the local senior-living project. The campus will be named Sunrise at Spearville. “This is a loan at a very favorable interest rate,” Temaat said. “This project could not happen without USDA funding. We are very grateful.”

But the good news doesn’t stop there, Temaat noted. The leader of the construction team, Josh Vogel, grew up in Wright and attended middle school and high school in Spearville. He is director of preconstruction at Simpson Construction Services, Wichita.  “The board of directors is working with Josh on a timeline that includes breaking ground on the project late this year with completion about a year later,” Temaat said. “Occupancy will start in January 2022.”  Simpson was one of several companies interviewed for this project. “Their experience and professionalism were impressive; the Simpson team is a great fit for SSL,” Temaat commented.  Vogel expressed “my sincere interest in this senior-living project during the interview. It is not often you get the opportunity to come back home and help with a project such as this. It is so important to the community.”

SSL is the 501-c3 non-profit organization that will operate Sunrise at Spearville.
The $5.1 million project will result in 14 private rooms in the skilled-nursing building, which is an expansion from 12 rooms. The assisted-living apartment complex will accommodate 12 residents.

Temaat acknowledged there has been a delay in construction. This is because “USDA significantly changed its processes at about the same time we submitted our initial loan application late in 2018. We continued to work with Rural Development and the application was approved.  “COVID-19 also factored into the delays in breaking ground,” he added.
SSL has hired the Topeka-based GraceTeam to help operate Sunrise at Spearville. “Their experience will be a great asset as we begin construction and look to the day-to-day operation,” Temaat said. “We are fortunate to have John Grace and his team involved in this project.  “They are vital to our success during financing, design and construction. In addition, they will help train staff and manage daily operations.”  GraceTeam operates SunPorch of Dodge City and other locations in Kansas.
           
 Fundraising campaign
With the approval from Rural Development, “we will resume our $520,000 fundraising campaign,” Temaat said. “To date, we have sold approximately half the tax credits and plan to have the rest sold by the end of this year.”    Last summer, SSL received a $250,000 tax-credit award from the Kansas Department of Commerce. This means a donor receives a tax credit equal to 70 percent of the gift. In some cases, a federal tax deduction also applies.  For example, if an individual or business gives $10,000, the Kansas tax credit comes to $7,000 and the federal tax deduction could be $3,000.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity,” Temaat said. “The tax credits supplement local support by allowing a significant part of a donation to offset tax liability.”  The Tom Feist Foundation donated one million dollars to the project.

The next big step in taking the plans of Spearville Senior Living Inc. (SSL) from the drafting table to reality is now underway.
         The “Caring for Our Elders” capital campaign begins in earnest this month, with the goal of raising a half million dollars, said SSL Board of Directors Chairman Ron Temaat.
         All proceeds are earmarked for the construction and operation of a skilled-nursing unit that offers 12 private rooms, each with a private bath. A 12-unit assisted-living apartment complex also is included in the $5.1 million project.
         “Our board members and ambassadors are just now beginning to contact folks who may want to consider a donation,” Temaat noted. “We encourage potential donors to talk to their financial advisors about the tax benefits of contributing to our 501c3 non-profit entity.”
         Temaat wanted to remind donors of the “extraordinary opportunity” generated by state tax credits.
         Last summer, SSL received a $250,000 tax-credit award from the Kansas Department of Commerce. This means a donor receives a tax credit equal to 70 percent of the gift. In some cases, a federal tax deduction also applies.
         For example, say an individual or business gives $10,000. The Kansas tax credit comes to $7,000 and the federal tax deduction could be $3,000.
         “While donations certainly will be accepted anytime, some potential donors may be wondering about the best time to contribute,” Temaat said. “If we have a donation in hand by Dec. 31, it can be included in their 2019 tax planning.
         “These tax credits supplement our local support by allowing a significant part of a donation to offset tax liability. This makes contributions much more attractive.”

Feist $1 million gift        

The actual goal of the capital campaign was set at $1.5 million. However, the Tom Feist Foundation has already donated two-thirds of that amount.
         “I cannot tell you how grateful we are to the Tom Feist Foundation for its $1 million contribution,” Temaat said. “Its vision for the future of Spearville and surrounding area is appreciated by all of us at SSL.
         “The Foundation recognizes the benefits that our project will provide. Without its support, this would be a much greater challenge. The Foundation’s foresight and generosity, as well as the tax benefits, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal. The community is encouraged to offer additional support with donations of any size.”
         Ron Herrman, president of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, said he and his fellow board members know there is definitely local interest in having long-term-care residences in Spearville.
         “Surveys were conducted and meetings were held with the Spearville community,” Herrman said. “We learned about this need and are just trying to help facilitate the project. We understood it required an influx of capital.
         “This project will go a long way to eliminating the need for seniors to look to other communities for the care they need,” he noted. “It also will ease the burden on families. This will be much more convenient and less stressful.”
         The Foundation’s expertise is helping projects that need to get off the ground, Herrman added. “We want to help make money available for community projects that might not otherwise be possible.”
         Herrman, Dodge City, worked in Spearville for 30-plus years and his wife grew up there.