Olivia Ambulance Service Uses REED Loan to Build a New Facility to Accommodate Growing Needs

Olivia Ambulance Service, Inc. in Olivia, Minnesota, debuted a new facility which was made possible with help from a $750,000 loan from the Rural Electric Economic Development Inc. (REED) Fund that will allow OAS to have the needed extra training and meeting space in hopes of growing the team to meet growing needs.

“Besides the needed training and meeting space, we have bedrooms now,” says Julie Wertish, Secretary/Treasurer at OAS. “Our overnight staff now has living and sleeping quarters to stay on-site while on-call in order to respond to calls quickly.”

OAS is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit volunteer corporation with a 26-member crew. Established in 1958, it now provides the ambulance transport needs of the residents of Olivia, Renville, Bird Island, Danube, and surrounding townships, covering a total of 307 square miles.

Learn more about its invaluable service and the benefits of this new facility.

The New Facility is Large Enough to Support OAS

Olivia Ambulance Service has been planning and saving for more than 10 years to build a new facility. It has been operating out of a small ambulance shed that wasn’t large enough to attempt  to grow the staff to be able  to answer increasing calls for emergency assistance. With one very small meeting room, monthly training sessions had to be moved to the Renville County Government Services Building. The facility also wasn’t large enough to house staff from out of town to stay on-site while on-call.

Through upgrades funded in part by the REED loan, OAS has a large meeting and training room, bedrooms, a small kitchen, and a living room area with a TV. There are offices, a staff work room, a medication storage control room, and larger bays for the ambulances.

Wertish explains that while there are a few paid staff, most OAS staff are OAS volunteers and don’t receive an hourly wage but instead receive a stipend for their time. All members have other paid jobs with varying hours. Staff who live in Olivia are able to respond to calls from home or work as needed, but several staff come from out of town and are now able to take on-call shifts while staying at the new facility. Staff often work long hours day and night, sometimes missing holidays and other family activities in order to serve their friends, families, and neighbors.

“We’re grateful for the OAS staff who give of their time and talents to serve our communities,” says DeeAnne Norris, CEO of Renville-Sibley Cooperative Power Association, who serves as a director on the REED Fund board. “Having first responders in our rural communities provides such a vital service for the health and well-being of our rural residents and we’re pleased that the REED Fund loan will help with a new facility that will improve their ability to serve.”

OAS Responds to Emergencies and Medical Transport Calls

With 24/7 on-call coverage, OAS provides both emergency and non-emergency ambulance services and responds to mutual aid for surrounding ambulance services when needed. 

Patients are often transported to larger hospitals across Minnesota and the Dakotas. OAS frequently makes trips to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, St. Cloud, Willmar, Hutchinson, Rochester, Fargo, and Sioux Falls, helping people access hospitals with high-level specialty care to get the treatment they need. If one ambulance is scheduled for a long-distance run, the other stays local to respond to calls.  

OAS call volume has increased dramatically in recent years as demand for its services grows. In 2020, OAS responded to 476 calls for assistance. By 2023, OAS responded to 903 calls. Out of its 26 current members who cover the service area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, four are volunteer EMRs (first responders), 19 are volunteer EMTs, and three are Paramedics. Six new members are currently working on completing the 16-week EMT class and will soon be joining OAS.

“The REED Fund and Renville-Sibley Cooperative Power are committed to growing our rural communities and with economic and population growth comes the increased need for the services OAS provides,” says Norris. “With this new facility, we hope that OAS will have the space and accommodations they need to serve continued growth in our region.”

OAS is Funded By Patient Insurance and Donations

As a non-profit corporation, OAS is not associated with the City of Olivia and does not receive any public subsidies or tax funds from the City of Olivia, Renville County, or any cities it serves. Instead, it is totally funded by patient and insurance payments, annual fundraising activities, and donations.

“We are very grateful for the donations we receive from our annual fundraising activities,” says Wertish. “Everyone has been incredibly generous.”

Along with supporting the medical needs of the community, OAS gives back when it can. It is active in local schools and volunteers serve as standbys at sports events and city festivals. During the Olivia Corn Capital Days, volunteers put on a Family Fun Night with games, bouncy houses, face painting, and emergency service group demonstrations, all for free.

“We want to give back a little bit,” says Wertish. “We don’t spend a lot of money because we rely on donations, but we try to be involved in the community where we can.” 

The REED Team Was Easy to Work With

Wertish has nothing but good things to say about the REED Fund and the process to secure the $750,000 loan. OAS is also considering updating its ambulances and may seek REED funding to help cover those costs. The 2012 and 2017 ambulances are getting older, which means replacements will soon be needed.

“I wasn’t even sure where to start with the REED loan application, but Janis was so helpful,” says Wertish. “She walked us through the application process and gave us a projection about what to expect for payments which assisted us in making the decision that this was the right financial move for OAS.” 

Learn About Other REED-Funded Projects

REED finances several healthcare projects each year so residents of Minnesota and South Dakota can get the services they need. People in rural communities can still receive quality health care, helping them recover faster and live longer. This supports quality of life in the area because residents get more time with their loved ones. Services like OAS help Renville County residents get treated for emergencies quickly or attend appointments for specialty care. With more than 900 calls a year, their presence is invaluable.

Read about other projects funded through REED loans and the impact they have on their local communities. You can also request an application and take the first steps to fund your project.