Miner County Development Corporation purchases Greenleaf

Howard, South Dakota – December 9, 2003-- Miner County Development Corporation announces its purchase of the former Greenleaf Assisted Living facility in Howard from Hunter Care Development, LLC. Beginning January 1 the facility will be owned and operated by MCDC and has been renamed to Whispering Winds Assisted Living.

“Our seniors represent one of our greatest assets. They made Miner County their home and worked to give us a quality of life we enjoy today. Many of the values and abilities of the people here are attributable to these people. They are simply too much to lose too soon, “ said Randy Parry, Executive Director of MCCR.

Not only is the assisted living important to Miner County in terms of keeping people close to friends and family it is also a vital economic development impact.

Transfer payments and dividends, rent and interest make up 45% of Miner County’s total personal income. In addition the estimated loss of the jobs supported by the assisted living as well as the negative impact to other local businesses was staggering.

“We must maintain the housing options necessary to make it possible for our residents to stay in Miner County. It is urgent that we look at the entire continuum of options that are available throughout one’s life cycle for housing, health care, and education. Positive economic development is an outcome of planning and maintaining that continuum,” said Mike Knutson, Economic Development/Housing Director, MCCR.

When Greenleaf Management indicated that they intended to sell the Howard facility in order to facilitate its expansion in other locations, MCCR began to look at financing and management options. A community-based approach was developed that brought together representatives from across the county to look at the immediate situation for assisted living.

Miner County Development Corporation is a for-profit corporation recently organized in Miner County to encourage, promote and assist in the growth, development and location of business, housing, economic and health opportunities with emphasis on a life-long continuum of care and the availability of options within Miner County. MCCR will be the initial shareholder in the new corporation with the potential of making ownership of shares available to the public at a later time. Life-cycle housing is a major emphasis in the strategic plan adopted by Miner County through MCCR.

The initial board of directors of MCDC represent a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Board members include Mark Bahnson with Alliance Communications in Garretson, Tom Maurer with One Stop Career Center in Madison, Sharon Bowman from Fedora, Brandon Darnell from Carthage, Mark Hvam from Canova, and Leo Poncelet, Dee Remacle, Father Mike Schneider, Mary Stangohr, Carol Yerigan and Terry Lee from Howard.

“We are so pleased that the community has supported our vision of keeping assisted living as a quality housing option here in Miner County. Whispering Winds is one partner along with other long-term care facilities, support services and health care providers in Miner County. We are also looking at the next opportunities because we know they are out there if we keep working together,” said Mark Bahnson, President of MCDC.