Funding Announcement

Mountain Empire Older Citizens PACE Center

Big Stone Gap, Virginia

May 5, 2008

            I am pleased to return to Big Stone Gap this morning to announce another major provision of federal funding for Mountain Empire Older Citizens to construct a new building, 17,000 square feet in size, which will greatly expand the resources available to Southwest Virginia's elderly residents.

            Effective today, at my request, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency is providing a low-interest federal loan in the amount of $600,000 to Mountain Empire Older Citizens for construction of its PACE Center. With today's announcement, the total federal investment in this facility is more than $4 million.  

            In September of 2006, I gathered with many of you here today to announce that the Rural Development Agency was providing a low-interest federal loan of $3.4 million for the construction of the first rural area PACE Center in the nation. Since that time, I have been working with Mountain Empire Older Citizens to secure the remaining federal funds necessary to complete this project, and today I am pleased to announce the final piece of federal funding needed to begin construction on the facility.

PACE is an acronym for Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, and the new facility will provide a one-stop health care and social center for the region's elderly residents. The new building will have an adult day care center, examination space for a medical doctor and nurse practitioner, and clinic space for physical, speech, and other types of therapies.

             Currently, there are more than forty PACE Programs operating in the United States; however, these programs serve only urban areas. With the funding I am announcing today, Mountain Empire Older Citizens will construct the first rural area PACE Center in the nation.

            Many of Southwest Virginia's elderly citizens are capable of living on their own but need assistance from time to time. Often, these residents receive care from family and friends, churches, or organizations like Mountain Empire Older Citizens. Currently, when the needs of these individuals exceed the care and services available from the community, they are faced with the need to enter institutionalized care.

            The PACE program will offer older individuals from Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties and the City of Norton an alternative to leaving their homes for institutionalized care. Individuals enrolled in the Mountain Empire Older Citizens PACE program will be able to live in their own homes, while receiving health care and therapy services either at home or at the new PACE Center.

            Individuals who enroll in the PACE program will be able to travel to the Center in Big Stone Gap to receive all of their health care services under one roof, or if necessary receive these services in their homes. An interdisciplinary team of health care professionals will be assigned to each person enrolled in the program. Members of this team will meet with one another regularly to discuss the patient's progress and ongoing treatment, and the team will have regular contact with the individual enrolled in the program so that any slight change in their health status may be addressed immediately.

            In addition to providing a one-stop location for health care services, the new PACE Center will serve as a social center for the program. The Center will offer individuals opportunities for socialization, dining, and therapeutic recreation with others enrolled in the program.

            The total cost for construction of the Center is more than $4.1 million. In addition to the $600,000 which I am announcing today and the previous Rural Development allocation of more than $3.4 million, the Virginia Tobacco Commission is providing a grant in the amount of $129,500, and the Wise County Industrial Development Authority has donated the property on which the Center will be located.

            Construction of the new PACE Center is set to begin in the coming weeks and to be completed in the Summer of 2009. The Center will house a medical clinic, a rehabilitation clinic, personal care facilities, activity and dining areas, a caterer's kitchen, meeting rooms and staff offices. 

            I am also pleased to announce today that the Rural Development Agency is providing an additional federal grant in the amount of $10,000 to Mountain Empire Older Citizens to make repairs to the organization's health wagon. The purpose of the health wagon is to provide information to the region's residents at community events and other locations about the programs and services available to senior citizens through Mountain Empire Older Citizens. Currently, the health wagon is in need of significant repairs and cannot be operated. With the benefit of the federal funds, MEOC will be able to make repairs to the health wagon to ensure that local residents are fully informed about the services that will be offered at the new PACE center.

            The construction of the new PACE Center will greatly enhance the resources available to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens in Lee, Scott, and Wise Counties and the City of Norton.

            There are a number of individuals who have played an integral part in the announcement we celebrate today, and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize them.

            First I want to recognize Marilyn Maxwell, Executive Director of Mountain Empire Older Citizens. Marilyn works tirelessly to provide quality services to the region's elderly, and she has been working to bring PACE to this region for a number of years. In addition, Tony Lawson, the Director of the PACE program as well as the entire staff of Mountain Empire Older Citizens deserve our appreciation for the outstanding work that they perform.

            I would also like to thank the Chair of the Mountain Empire Older Citizens Board of Directors, Linda Kocher, and the other Members of the Board for their dedicated efforts on behalf of this project.

            Travis Jackson, Area Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency, and his excellent staff, deserve our appreciation for their work to secure this funding.

            I also want to recognize Ron Flanary, director of the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission, and the other members of the LENOWISCO staff who have worked in support of this project.

            The Wise County IDA has provided outstanding support to this project. I also want to thank the Virginia Tobacco Commission for their efforts on behalf of the project.

            Finally, I would like to thank my Project Manager, Derek Lyall, for his persistent and persuasive efforts on behalf of this project.

            Today's announcement will greatly improve the quality of life for many of Southwest Virginia's elderly residents, and I want to congratulate everyone here on achieving this success.