EXTON — In just 57 days this year, United Way of Chester County raised $1.4 million, which will enable the organization to move into a new 5,000-square-foot building sometime next month.
The building at 150 John Robert Thomas Drive in the Commons and Lincoln Center in Exton will include 10 private offices, a 1,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Leadership Training Center, a Social Innovation Lab and a Financial Independence Hub.
“This is a big deal for the UWCC, and it has truly been a community effort to make it happen,” said Brian Parsons, CTDI Chief Operating Officer and United Way of Chester County Board Chairman. “We expect that this new site will provide physical and financial stability so that UWCC can continue to serve for decades to come. We are so thankful for all who supported it.”
Chris Saello, president and CEO of United Way of Chester County, said the new facility will much better serve the community.
“Because United Way of Chester County serves the entire county the goal for a new facility was to be as close to the center of the county as possible,” Saello said. “This new Exton location is a perfect location to access all parts of the county.”
Saello said no United Way funds were used toward the project.
“All funds for the purchase of the building and renovations were dedicated funds from a silent building capital campaign and all donors gave these gifts above and beyond any current annual support that they provide to the organization,” he said. “Because of this generosity, the United Way will save approximately $80,000 per year in rent and occupancy costs that will be redirected to help the community.”
Because the building is completely paid for, it will free up about $1 million every 10 years in rent and occupancy, money that United Way of Chester County will be able to funnel right back into the community.
This building will become the permanent headquarters for the United Way of Chester County staff. Since the building was larger than needed, all of the extra space was used to create spaces that can be used by the nonprofit community. Two additional handicap-accessible bathrooms have also been added to support these spaces.
The Leadership Training Center will host the United Way Leadership Chester County program (LCC), United Way Board meetings and Nonprofit Capacity building workshops. It will also be available for other nonprofits to use for board meetings and community programs as well as to host chamber events and more.
The Social Innovation Lab is a space that is being created to allow nonprofits to explore how to be more entrepreneurial and learn how to develop innovative programs and solutions to community problems. United Way will then fund pilot programs to let these nonprofits test these ideas out without putting their organization’s funds at risk. This space and program are being developed with many collaborative partners including the Chester County Economic Development Council, Penn State Great Valley’s Launchbox, West Chester University’s Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center and many others.
Parsons said the new facility is in an ideal location.
“With services and partner agencies all across Chester County, this new location puts the UWCC in a very central location to those we serve,” he said. “We hope the location is convenient for agency partners, clients and volunteers and that the site enables collaboration and positive outcomes for the community.”
“This project shows the incredible trust the community has in our organization, and this building represents our commitment to the residents of Chester County and our gift to the Next Generation of United Way,” Saello said.
