Neighborhood Depot

Project Purpose:

To build a nonprofit hub for organizations to share services in rural Tioga County, New York.  The facility will be built above the 500-year flood zone and act as an emergency response center in times of crisis.

Narrative:

The Neighborhood Depot is a new construction project that will build a facility where nonprofits can share services to reduce overhead costs. Located safely above the 500-year flood zone, this project will act as an emergency response center, grow programs, services and staff while promoting healthier living. The 15,000 SF facility will host several nonprofits, including Tioga United Way, Tioga County Rural Ministry, & Racker.  This community center will address an abundance of needs in Tioga County for the vulnerable and underserved. Partnering organizations provide services, supports and programs for early childhood services, people with disabilities, poverty-stricken families, veteran services and various other community needs.

This project will reduce the overhead costs to approximately $5 per SF for each tenant. The current cost per SF in Tioga County is between $13-$18 per SF. The design of this nonprofit collaboration is to use the cost saving of over $1.2 million dollars over just the first ten years, to increase the number of people supported and increase the variety of supports that are available to the community. Additionally, the proximity of these human service organizations under one roof provides an ease of access that does not exist in a rural community such as Tioga County.  Accessibility is crucial because the area served by this project is rural. Access to food, financial assistance, counseling, services for individuals with disabilities and health care can be spread out throughout the region. This project will provide access to many services at one location and alleviate the stress of traveling all over the county for assistance.  Building a facility that centralizes services and allows nonprofits to save on overhead costs will have a tremendous impact on the poor and underserved. These nonprofits promote good health with services and opportunities at one location, right where they live.

County has seen catastrophic flooding in 2006 and 2011. During those times, emergency services and supplies were miles away from the population center. Because of the size of the facility and proximity above the flood zone, and next to railroad tracks, this project will act as an emergency response center during times of crisis. Included in the plans for the Neighborhood Depot are a large conference room that can house 150-200 people, showers, a large kitchen/food pantry and an industrial-sized, emergency generator.  Displaced residents were left without safe options or relief near their home in Owego. This project has an enormous community impact while addressing a crucial need to house and feed displaced residents during times of crisis. The proposed facility will be located in downtown Owego, the most densely populated municipality in Tioga County, and within walking distance for a large percentage of the affected population.

This proposed project will target a very large cross-section of vulnerable and underserved in our region. Because of the diverse program offerings of each participating nonprofit, this project will have an enormous impact on the community. The location and collaboration of each of these organizations will help shape and improve the daily life and reduce many trips to multiple locations around the region.

The nonprofits that will be housed in the Neighborhood Depot include:  Racker, Tioga County Rural Ministry, and Tioga County United Way.

Tioga County Rural Ministry offers financial assistance to people in our community in times of crisis along with a proposed larger food pantry. Their programs help promote economic stability, food security and get people back on their feet. Racker provides job coaching/placement and self-directed services for the disabled population in our community.  Racker also provides residential services at 7 houses in Tioga County.

This project addresses several needs in our community that is vulnerable and has dealt with catastrophic emergencies. Through collaboration, each participating nonprofit seeks to better the conditions of the daily life of the community residents.  As a disaster recovery center, Tioga County residents will be better prepared to respond to an emergency.

Community Support: