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              For some people, the New Year is a time for reinvention or change. This notion has certainly spread to Kodiak’s small business community as a handful of them look to expand, move or otherwise shake things up in 2013. Join KMXT next week as we take a closer look at Kodiak’s shifting economy in our five part series: Business on the Move. Each day we’ll feature a local business that is changing things up in the New Year, or opening for the first time. Listen for these stories each day during your KMXT news broadcasts, and don’t forget read them online at KMXT dot org. 

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            A new long term care facility may be coming to Kodiak in 2014, pending approval by the state. Last night the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly voted in favor of three agenda items related to the facility, including a contractor and construction contract, a lease with Providence Health and Services and revenue bonds to fund the project. The assembly’s decisions mean the facility now rests in the hands of the state. Before any new health care facility can be built anywhere in Alaska, the state must issue a certificate of need. The long term care facility has yet to receive this, though it is expected that it will. However, if the CON does not come through, the lease between the borough and Providence, and the project, will be terminated.

            Long term care facilities are often referred to as nursing homes, though it was pointed out during the public comment period that long term care can be issued at any age for any reason.

            The first item up for discussion last night regarding the project was a contract for a general contractor and construction manager for construction of the care center. Despite having two more votes ahead, assembly members quickly took to discussing the facility as a whole, and stated whether they were for or against the project. Assemblywoman Louise Stutes kicked off the discussion by saying she would vote against all of the items for several reasons.

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            A new long term care facility may be built in Kodiak as early as next year, but a few key decisions need to be made first. The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly will get the ball rolling with those decisions tonight as it convenes for a regular meeting, and will vote on three separate agenda items related to the proposed facility.

            Last week the assembly met for a work session, and discussed the project at length. Borough Manager Bud Cassidy outlined what three decisions the assembly will be voting on during tonight’s meeting.  

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            Dave Kubiak is a lifelong Kodiak resident with a passion for the island’s community and surrounding sea. But in recent years, Kubiak has found himself drawn to a similar island archipelago, the Faeroe Islands, situated on the other side of the world, between the Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. Like Kodiak, the Faeroe Archipelago survives on resources from the sea, which is how Kubiak first learned of it.