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9/12/07 The Daily Courier:
Where opportunity resides: Employee housing offers a chance for Independence By Jason Soifer

Amanda Bazzell cherishes the new opportunity in front her.

Bazzell and her husband are working as house parents at Rusing Hills, the new living space for female employees of Yavapai Exceptional Industries.

Yavapai Exceptional Industries opened more than 30 years ago and now has more than 120 employees. YEI provides job training, employment, volunteer placements and support services for developmentally disabled adult residents of the Prescott tri-city area. According to the non-profit organization's website, YEI is "a place where developmentally disabled adults can find gainful employment and a sense of personal pride."

YEI opened a men's residence for its employees in February 2005, and the women's building is opening in the coming weeks.

Bazzell will help the women with daily tasks including food preparation, cleaning, laundry and getting ready for work.

"They should be able to do a lot of it and we may teach them some of it," she said. "The goal is to help them establish the skills for independent living."

Bazzell knows the value of the living quarters to the employees of YEI. Her brother lives in YEI's Washington Hills Residence for Men, also in Prescott. "It means a lot to him," she said. "It gives him the opportunity to be more independent and have a life of his own. He has really responded to that."

Brad Newman, executive director of YEI, said his employees frequently ask for a place to call their own.

"Rusing Hills is another testament to Prescott looking out for its own," he said.

A number of prominent local builders and contractors participated in bringing the building to life.

Mike Fann, owner of Fann Contracting, reached out to Ernie Feavel to supervise construction of the Rusing Hills home, named for Russ Rusing.

Ernie Feavel, owner of E. Feavel Customs in Prescott, asked his subcontractors to donate their time and materials to the project. Feavel said the response was amazing. "Everybody wants to donate; they just have to be asked," he said. "Without them giving, this project wouldn't be what it is."

About 30 subcontractors had a hand in the project from the foundation to the roof, and Feavel said work on the home will be completed around the end of the month.

"It's just such a great feeling to see an organization like YEI provide (employees) a style of living," he said. "This provides a place for the kids to enjoy life."

For more information, visit www.yeiworks.com.

Photo credit: The Daily Courier/Jo. L. Keener The Rusing home for female employees of Yavapai Exceptional Industries (YEI) is slated for occupancy later this month.

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