MSSCA marks beginning of project to build new $6.7 million facility

WASILLA — After growing with the Valley for nearly three decades, Mat-Su Service for Children and Adults marked the groundbreaking for its new building on Spruce Avenue Friday.

Executive Director John Cannon said the $6.7 million project will be ready for the nonprofit to move in by May 2014. But he was quick to credit that success to community partners that have worked together toward this goal for more than six years.

“It’s been a long journey to get to where we are today,” he said.

Cannon said the program began in 1985 with two part-time infant learning teachers and served about 10 families. Today, MSSCA serves between 1,200 and 1,500 people and has more than 270 employees.

“We kind of grew like the Valley did,” Cannon said of the slate of services the nonprofit provides to Valley residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He said the new facility will offer more privacy and other amenities, but first and foremost the building is a tool to serve the nonprofit’s mission — helping people.

“The building will help our operation become more efficient and effective, but the main thing (is) we are hoping it will be a resource for effecting service delivery,” Cannon said.

Most of the services MSSCA offers will continue to be delivered in-home via the group’s fleet of 40 vans.

At the dedication July 19, when Cannon described the new building and what it means to MSSCA, one item on the list drew enthusiastic cheers from many in the crowd.

“It’s an end to noise and distractions we’ve been living with for more than a decade,” he said. “And there will be plenty of parking for everyone.”

When the crowd had ceased to clap and cheer for the promise of adequate parking, Cannon continued.

“I believe the new facility will enhance the thing we value most, delivery of quality services,” he said. “This will be an established, sustainable resource families can count on for the next 25 to 50 years.”

Cannon said meeting room space and parking are two of the most pressing needs the new facility will address.

“When there is training going on, there is just no parking,” he said.

But Cannon said the celebration wouldn’t be possible without support from Mat-Su Health Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Foraker Group, Alaska Mental Health Trust, Northrim Bank, First National Bank Alaska, Matanuska Telephone Association, Combs Insurance, MSSCA board of directors and the MSSCA facilities committee.

In attendance to help celebrate July 19 were Gov. Sean Parnell and First Lady Sandy Parnell, Health and Social Services Commissioner William Streur, Rep. Wes Keller, Sen. Charlie Huggins, Rep. Shelley Hughes, former Sen. Linda Menard, Mat-Su Mayor Larry DeVilbiss, Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright and Butch Ehmann of F-E Contracting Inc., the project’s contractor.

Cannon said Rep. Keller was due special recognition as the first person in the House to throw his support behind the project.

“A building like this shows the priorities we have,” Keller said.

The new building is located on Mat-Su Health Services’ 36-acre campus off Spruce Avenue.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or

heather.resz@frontiersman.com.