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Advocates for Aging Care ask Champaign County for $1 million to reopen skilled nursing capacity
Summary
Members of Advocates for Aging Care told the Champaign County Board the county is roughly 300 beds short of demand and asked the board to commit $1,000,000 toward start‑up and capital costs for a proposed 120‑bed skilled nursing facility backed by a private $26,000,000 developer and $1,000,000 in state capital funds.
Advocates for Aging Care asked the Champaign County Board on Monday evening to invest $1,000,000 toward opening a new skilled nursing facility after years of local capacity loss. "I am here to ask you to make an investment in the future on behalf of the older citizens in our community by committing $1,000,000 to help make a much needed innovative new skilled care facility a reality in our community," said Cathy Emanuel, chair of Advocates for Aging Care.
Speakers representing the group and allied organizations told the board the county now has about 400 of the 700 beds it historically should have — a shortfall they described as more than 300 beds. Joan Dixon summarized the needs assessment presented to the board, saying the county’s population age 60 and over rose about 67% over two decades and that 70% of those seeking skilled care experienced difficulty finding placements. Dixon said the project team has secured nearly $900,000 in private commitments to date and that a Tennessee‑based developer, named in the public comment as John Ponti, plans to invest about $26,000,000 to build the facility.
Lori Reynolds, also speaking for Advocates for Aging Care, framed the request as restoring voter intent from a 2002 referendum that created a property‑tax levy for a county nursing home. Reynolds said the levy revenue was rolled into the county’s general levy after a 2018 sale and estimated the county currently receives roughly $1,750,000 annually in revenue that originated from that levy; she asked the board to reallocate $1,000,000 toward startup operations rather than raise taxes.
Nancy Yagle, a steering‑committee member, said the group has obtained 501(c)(3) status, secured a certificate‑of‑need approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Review Board for 120 beds, and has state capital support: "the Illinois Health Facilities and Review Board approved that unanimously," she said, and the legislature committed $1,000,000 focused on capital costs.
Supporters repeatedly emphasized the project's local and economic benefits, arguing that restoring skilled‑nursing capacity would keep families close to care and reduce burdens on surrounding counties. The group asked the board to treat the request as a partnership — not a request for the county to operate the facility — and to provide the one‑time county contribution to cover early operating costs before occupancy and reimbursement streams are established.
The board did not take a final vote on the AAC request during this meeting. Advocates requested that the board consider placing $1,000,000 from funds they said originally derived from the nursing‑home levy; their speakers urged the board to view the ask as aligned with the 2002 voter authorization and as time‑sensitive because earlier county expenses tied to the sale may finish accounting by year end.
Looking ahead, AAC said it plans to continue fundraising and requested the county’s partnership to help the project break ground and open a facility "in early 2028" if funding milestones are met.
