Assisted Living Center

ASSISTED LIVING CENTER BREAKS GROUND

“SILVER BAY CAREFREE LIVING”

On May 24^th, Citizens and Officials from Silver Bay gathered together to celebrate the beginning construction of a much anticipated Assisted Living Center.  “Silver Bay Carefree Living” Center will be a nice compliment to the MN Veteran’s Home and Silver Pointe Apartments and is the result of hard work and partnerships of many.

In 2006, the City of Silver Bay received $156,400 from the Iron Range Resources to help remove the condemned Bell Apartments in hope to use the land for a new Assisted Living Center.  In 2007, an ad-hoc group of local citizens was formed consisting of City Councilors Dave Gustafson and Steve Marolt, along with local citizens Chris Mattila, Susan Frericks, Betty Josephson, Pastor Robin Bjella, Shelly Fredrickson, and Susan Michels to further progress this project.  In 2008 and 2009 the City applied for funding to the IRR and received award notification in 2010.

Even though there were efforts of many people to help pull this together, it was Spectrum Community Health, Inc. that was willing to financially invest in our community.  Spectrum is a reputable private company who have Assisted Living centers throughout the state including communities such as Brainerd, Burnsville, Cook, Alexandria, Ely, St. Cloud, and Duluth, to name a few.  Spectrum’s Owner, Merle Sampson, and Jon Monacelli, Vice President, continued to believe in this project even when the financial market changed in 2008.  It was their persistency and dedication to our community that got us here today.

Silver Bay’s Carefree Living will be a 28-bed facility which includes 16 beds for Assisted Living and 12 beds designated for memory care.  There will be 24 hour staffing, three daily meals plus snacks, planned activities, scheduled transportation, housekeeping, and more.  The cost of the project is estimated at $2.8 million dollars and is designed to create a community within the facility by encouraging tenants to congregate in beautiful living areas.  Most of the financing will be private investment by Spectrum Community Health, Inc.; however, Iron Range Resources has provided $350,000 for site and infrastructure improvements and the City of Silver Bay provided the land at a minimal cost after Spectrum Community Health, Inc. met the requirements set forth by the Economic Development Authority, Planning and Zoning Commission, and the City Council.

Although this project may bring some minor temporary inconveniences such as noise and dust, it will provide our community positive growth. The goal of the project is to be completed by November 2010 and will provide opportunity for local citizens to stay in the community who would typically move away for these services.  Silver Bay Carefree Living is anticipated to create 20-25 full-time and part-time positions and bring an increase in the tax base to our community (approximately $39,100 annually based upon estimates received by Lake County).  Terry Ritter, Supervisor from Ryan Companies, along with many of the construction workers are temporarily relocating to our community, staying in local hotels, and supporting our local businesses.   

For anyone interested in applying to live in the facility can contact Spectrum Community Health at 1-888-741-3013.  For anyone interested in applying for employment can contact Erica Frey, Personnel Coordinator, at 1-320-229-7559 or visit their website at www.spectrumhealthcos.com.   

Silver Bay welcomes Spectrum Community Health, Inc. to our community!  

06/09/10 - Spectrum Health has recently made an adjustment to their building plans (see below) to include the addition of 6 assisted living rooms for a total of 34 residents.  Jon Monacelli, Vice President of Spectrum Community Health state, "The response so far has been just great from the community and we feel good about filling these additional rooms."