STANTON — In the spring of 2015, Montcalm Care Network (MCN), a community mental health agency, expanded its services to better support individuals with serious mental illnesses by opening Wellness Works, a fitness facility located at 310 E. Main St. in Stanton.
When Wellness Works in Stanton was set to close due to a loss of funding for its InShape program, Todd and Kelsea Sattler stepped forward with an interest in keeping the facility open. This led to the creation of Hive Fitness LLC. — Submitted photo
“Opening a gym was a little unusual for a community mental health agency, but it served multiple purposes,” recalled MCN Executive Director Tammy Warner. “First, in providing space for an evidence‑based practice called InShape, a proven program that helps improve the health of individuals with mental illnesses through physical fitness. Second, it created supported employment opportunities for people with mental illnesses seeking to join the workforce. And third, it filled a gap in the Stanton area by offering access to a gym at an affordable rate.”
For more than a decade, Wellness Works positively impacted the health and lives of residents in the Stanton area. However, Warner notes that the agency has faced significant financial challenges.
“Unfortunately, due to continued underfunding by the state, we’ve been forced to make cost reductions, including the elimination of the InShape program,” she said.
MCN is funded primarily through Medicaid via a capitated payment system, meaning the agency receives a set amount of money to provide all necessary services for any county resident who meets eligibility criteria.
“We are responsible for ensuring funds are available to care for the most seriously ill in our community,” Warner added. “Maintaining Wellness Works, while incredibly beneficial, was no longer an option.”
Community mental health agencies across the state are preparing for the Medicaid reductions that are coming in 2027.
“Montcalm Care Network is proactively working to assure its operations are lean and services are cost effective,” said Warner.
MCN’s motto for 2026 has become “doing more with less,” recognizing that federal and state budgets are only going to get tighter.
Fortunately for the community, after hearing about the planned closure, Todd and Kelsea Sattler stepped forward with an interest in keeping the facility open. This led to the creation of Hive Fitness LLC.
“Running a gym wasn’t exactly on our list of things to do in 2026, but when the opportunity came up, we thought, why not?” Todd said. “Having a local, 24-7 access gym in Stanton is important for the small-town community. We didn’t want to see this go away for residents as regular fitness is essential for overall health.”
Kelsea agreed, sharing that as the new owners, they have big plans.
“The facility hasn’t had a need to be fully advertised as being available to the public, so we are excited to really make this into something the community can enjoy,” she said. “We have a lot of ideas for growing the gym, starting with a mobile app that will make getting a membership even easier while still allowing 24-7 access. From there, additional equipment, a new face lift, and new amenities are in store.”
Community members can stay informed about updates, new offerings, and membership information by following Hive Fitness on Facebook. For additional questions and/or recommendations, email Hive Fitness at hivefitnessllc@gmail.com.
