“The non-profit community in Howard County is unparalleled when it comes to the incredible service they render”, says Dick Story, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
The NRDC is exploring the possibilities of developing Shared Facilities for Howard County nonprofits. This ambitious initiative would create a highly visible center for nonprofits and lead to operating efficiencies, more coordinated services for our community, and great opportunities for creative collaboration. Locating Shared Facilities in a rehabbed historic building and including affordable housing in the design are exciting possible economic redevelopment options. Council and community leaders are bringing their deep knowledge and experiences to the partnership. For example, builder Don Manekin successfully completed a similar project in Baltimore, and the Howard County Public School System worked with the Howard County Arts Council a number of years ago on a similar project. The Columbia Foundation, the Horizon Foundation, Howard Bank and the Howard County Economic Development Authority and others are contributing their ideas and resources to exploring this initiative.
The Council’s research will include considering the most critical needs to be addressed. Should Shared Facilities be located to serve the needs of a particular neighborhood? Should it be the home of nonprofits that together address a key need in the county? What shared spaces are already operating successfully and what can we learn from them? The Council, in partnership with community leaders, will investigate these important questions as they create the plan designed to make the most of this opportunity. This initiative will begin with designing and building Shared Facilities, followed by assisting the nonprofit partners with mining all the opportunities inherent in being co-located.
“The non-profit community in Howard County is unparalleled when it comes to the incredible service they render”, said Dick Story, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “Just imagine how much more successful many of them could be if they had the synergies of operating from shared facilities and with shared resources.”
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