ELY – Ely’s Boundary Waters Care Center (BWCC) recently received the good news that they’d been awarded $95,000 in funding through a Blandin Foundation Rural Leadership Boost Grant. According to the press release provided to the Timberjay, “Leadership Boost Grants were launched to encourage Minnesotans living in rural and Tribal communities to be visionary and creative as they move their communities forward after two years of growing challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.”
BWCC Executive Director Adam Masloski said that the funding will be used primarily to make capital improvements to the facility.
He explained that as a stand-alone nonprofit facility, BWCC receives no corporate funding.
“Getting a grant like this is a big deal for us,” he said. “We’ve got kind of a laundry list of stuff (to improve) since it’s an older facility.”
Masloski said that once news came of the funding award the first thing to do was prioritize what to tackle first. He said the 32 residents were asked for feedback, and they all expressed interest in a fully accessible whirlpool bathing system, or as Masloski put it, “tub room.” Additional improvements at BWCC will include smart lifts and stands, a new call light system, and various other needed facility updates.
Masloski said the funding will be a big help.
“I was surprised at the total amount (we received),” he said. “We would’ve been happy with anything, so we’re really excited.”