Our Community Impact
A Community Center
Third Street Center’s shared-service model transforms one building into community infrastructure with a reach far beyond its walls. The result is greater collective impact: stronger organizations, more effective services, and a healthier, more resilient region.
Last year 83,100 people came to Third Street Center for services, support, and programming for ages 5 to 85 from the many organizations located in the building – improving the lives of thousands of people in our region.
An Incubator
We are home to 26 nonprofit organizations, 6 artists, and 3 small businesses and over 85 jobs spread out over these organizations – and $17M in annual economic activity based on their annual budgets.
Several organizations started or grew during their time at Third Street – Ascendigo, Coventure, and Valley Settlement have all expanded into bigger spaces in Carbondale or the region.
A Place For Creative Exchange
Third Street Center tenants work on almost every important issue facing our region – climate change, senior services, food safety, youth mentoring, health insurance, energy efficiency and renewables, education, business development, and mental health – making Third Street Center a place of creative exchange and a solution incubator for the larger region.
A Self-supporting Non-profit
We are a self-supporting nonprofit organization. Office leasing, space rental and individual contributions make our $600,000 annual budget possible. We receive no funding from the Town of Carbondale.
A Place to Access Services, Learn, and Celebrate
Whether you are accessing a tenant service or program, attending a meeting or workshop, or taking part in a private or public celebration, Third Street Center adapts to meet your needs and the needs of the larger community.
A Model of Sustainable Reuse
Third Street Center repurposed the old Carbondale Elementary School, an initiative resulting from the Town of Carbondale’s 2006 Economic Road Map Process. Third Street Center capital campaign raised $2M in grants and community donations to renovate the facility into community center. $2.5M in financing was secured from Alpine Bank. The center opened in 2010 as a solar powered, energy-efficient facility.
A Second Phase of Improvements
After 16 years of operation, we are pursuing funding for needed repairs and upgrades to a very well-used facility. Recent renovations include upgrading restrooms, lining sewer lines, replacing the old tar and gravel roof over the Calaway Room, and adding windows to the old gym (and renaming it Community Hall). Check out our Capital Improvement Plan.
A Solar-powered Space
100% of our electrical energy needs come from on-site solar power. We generate more electricity than we need and put the extra clean electricity back on the grid.
We are one of the most energy efficient buildings in the region, with many sustainable design features added when the building was upgraded to become Third Street Center. We are currently working on strategies to reduce our natural gas use and become a net zero building (learn more …)
More than a building
Third Street Center has laid the foundation for countless nonprofits to grow thrive and intern make a profound impact on our region. We also organize our trainings to strengthen nonprofits and work to raise awareness of the role nonprofit/community impact organizations play in the social, economic, and environmental fabric of our community.
When we invest in Third Street Center, we invest in the collective capacity of our community to address its challenges and shape its future.
