Nugen’s to relocate thanks to MSHF grant

PALMER — For Nugen’s Ranch substance abuse treatment farm, the money awarded this week from the Mat-Su Health Foundation was a godsend.

“We were in the middle of building and thinking we were going to have to stop,” said the ranch’s executive director, Karen Nugen-Logan.

Now, with $870,355 from the foundation, the ranch has what it needs to relocate. The ranch needs to move, both to make room for expansion of Seward-Meridian Parkway and to allow itself room to grow. The current facility at the corner of Seward-Meridian and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway offers little in the way of expansion opportunities. The new Nugen’s Ranch will be at Point MacKenzie.

The grant announced Thursday wasn’t the first time the foundation has stepped up to help. According to a MSHF press release issued Thursday, the foundation awarded the ranch $1 million last year. Nugen-Logan said she was also able to secure $500,000 from The Rasmussen Foundation.

The money will build the main facility, which will house one more client than the current facility, Nugen-Logan said. And as far as that building goes, she has what she needs. But she’s still looking for funding to build a pole barn to store hay and a greenhouse to grow vegetables. She’s applied for a block grant for at least the greenhouse from the Mat-Su Borough.

“I’ll miss the greenhouse,” she said. “I’m also looking at raising funds to buy equipment, because my poor little tractors aren’t going to make it “

Nugen-Logan said her contractor has said the main building at Point MacKenzie should be ready by May, and she plans to move operations there soon after.

“I’m hoping we’ll be out of here in June or July 2011,” she said, before adding the caveat that plans don’t always work out the way she’d like.

A number of other groups were also on the receiving end of the health foundation’s generosity. Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults’ car seat safety program was given $77,082 and the Wasilla Seniors’ Club 50 program received $300,000 for an Alzheimer’s disease respite and outreach program. The foundation said both of those grants are awarded to help the programs reach sustainability.

Community Sports Inc. was awarded $75,000 to do a feasibility study to look at turning the AT&T Sports Center into a non-profit. Alaska Children’s Services, which provides psychiatric services to children with emotional disturbances, received $150,000 to renovate housing for its residential program.

Also on the list:

• $135,000 for a health and wellness project at the Wasilla Senior Center.

• $109,000 for two wheelchair accessible vans for the Palmer Senior Center.

• $80,000 to promote recreation at the Palmer Hay Flats.

• $62,500 administrative bridge grant for Alaska Pacific University’s Spring Creek Farm.

• $52,000 to Valley Charities Inc. for its medical equipment lending program.

• $40,000 to Family Promise Mat-Su to purchase vehicles to transport clients.

• $30,000 for office equipment to Mid-Valley Seniors Inc.

The Mat-Su Health Foundation is the business name of Valley Hospital Association Inc., which co-owns Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Pitches for its next grand cycle are due Jan. 7.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.