In December 2017, Steve Coetzee, President and CEO of the Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home, realized many of the surrounding senior care facilities in Boonsboro, Maryland were closing and that his team would need to expand their facility to meet future demand. However, the home did not have the available funds to do so.
Steve’s facility had previously worked with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to assist with financing a much-needed water system upgrade for Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home. “After working with USDA Rural Development for a loan to help fix our water tower, I thought I would reach out again and see if this type of expansion matched other programs that may be available,” said Coetzee.
Steve contacted USDA Rural Development and learned about the Community Facilities Loan and Grant program which provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. He applied and was able to obtain financing for the Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home to expand.
This expansion increased the number of memory care patients the unit can accommodate, enlarged the dining room and provided more open recreational and social space for patients.
“Initially, we were worried that 18 new beds would be too many and that we would have a hard time filling them,” said Coetzee. “But six months later we had a waiting list for people to get in. Without the help of the USDA Rural Development, we never would have been able to make this happen.”
USDA has funds available through the American Rescue Plan for more projects like the Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home. To learn more, please visit our Community Facilities program page: www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/community-facilities-programs