Productive Alternatives adding services in Grant County

After the coronavirus prompted the closing of the Grant County DAC last March, the need for disability services has not waned, and Productive Alternatives is stepping in to restore them and offer more to families in the area.

“They are very excited that we’re coming and excited for the new opportunities,” said Mike Burke, director of operations for Fergus Falls- based Productive Alternatives (PA).

Responding to a request for proposals from Grant County, PA will lease space from the Grant County DAC in Hoffman. It plans to offer day services, employment support services and connect participants to offerings from Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).

“There will be more options for people,” said Burke. Before the coronavirus, he estimated that the Grant County DAC served 20 to 25 individuals with disabilities from Hoffman and at other locations.

PA will initially start with about 20 in the second week of February and hopes to increase that number to 50 in a short period of time. People with disabilities living in Pope County are also eligible. Licensed capacity will be for 100 participants.

The focus in Hoffman will be on community-based services, said Burke, a former president of MOHR. All activities in-center will be non-vocational. The hope is to invite in members of the community for arts experiences and other life enrichment activities.

PA already has vocational services in the area, with job coaches in nearby Morris and Alexandria. Some of PA’s existing clients will be able to transfer to the Hoffman location, many new participants are expected and a number will return who were previously served by the Grant County program. Burke said some will not return.

“It’s a bit of a ‘build it and they will come’ kind of an atmosphere,” said Burke. The counties and community wanted a program locally, so PA is honoring that request.

Roughly two-thirds of the Grant County DAC staff have been hired by PA to resume services. Burke said most bring 20-plus years of client service experience with them.

“A few of them had taken on part-time jobs (after the closure), but they are really excited to get back to doing what they love,” said Burke. “That will be a real strength for us.”

PA plans to continue the productive greenhouse operation at the Hoffman site. It received a Life Enrichment Award from MOHR in 2018.

Before the coronavirus, Productive Alternatives was a $17 million organization with almost 300 staff. COVID-19 drew it down to 60 staffers, but the nonprofit has rebounded to employ about 250 by January 2021. With Hoffman, the operation grows to eight locations.
 
The Grant County DAC had operated since 1966 and had about $836,000 in revenue in its 2018 fiscal year and $637,000 in assets, according to IRS 990 Form filings.

 

[Photos: Top right: Participants from Grant County DAC visited White Horse Ranch in Herman, Minn. (source: White Horse Ranch on Facebook). Bottom left, DAC participants in the award winning greenhouse at Grant County DAC and the nonprofit's 2018 Life Enrichment Award from MOHR.]