By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Synergy is filling the first floor of the historic six-story Chestnut Building in downtown Hays.
Three nonprofit organizations are now housed in the building purchased by four local businessmen.
The Downtown Hays Development Corporation, Heartland Community Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters occupy Suite 102, along with the Downtown Visitor’s Center.
“This is such a fun environment,” said Sandy Jacobs, executive director of HCF, “and a wonderful synergy going on with nonprofits. We do some amazing things when we all work together.”
The groups recently hosted a holiday open house and ribbon cutting by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.
One of the building owners, Dick Werth, approached Jacobs about moving her office into the building at 1200 Main and offered a minimal rental rate. Jacobs jumped at the opportunity after being notified by the city that her space in the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine, was to become the new home of the city’s IT department.
DHDC had already moved into the location from its space on 12th Street.
“The owners are a wonderful group and they wanted to see nonprofits down here. They’ve allowed it to happen that works financially for all three of our groups. We’re grateful for that,” added Jacobs.
BBBS filled the rest of the suite in early November.
“We are super excited to be in this space,” said Jenny Bates, BBBS area director.
One major advantage for BBBS is access to the suite’s large boardroom.
“We’ve always had to go off-site for that,” Bates explained. “We do lots of volunteer information sessions and parent training sessions and will now be able to do all that here.”
DHDC office manager Michaela Bartlett also works as the receptionist for the three nonprofits.
Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, joked about how many moves her office made before settling into the Chestnut Building.
“It’s a much bigger, beautiful space and it allows for more. Michaela and I now have our own offices. If we need to close doors, we can. Our 13 board members were meeting in an unfinished basement. We’re very excited to be in the Chestnut Building and collaborating with these other wonderful nonprofits,” she said.
Each of the nonprofit directors thanked the board members for donating their time and talent.
“What I’m starting to see that I’m really grateful for is the number of young people that are now becoming involved,” Jacobs said.
“I think what is important for us to remember is all of these people have real jobs. And they have real employers that I don’t think we spend enough time thanking for allowing them to serve on these boards, and take time off, and do the things they do. Without those employers agreeing to all that, we wouldn’t have all the wonderful stuff that we have going on.”
