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McKinsey Home project moves into contract phase; nonprofit seeks fundraising to renovate historic Washington School
Summary
The McKinsey Home Project told the Sweetwater County commission it is under contract to buy the old Washington School in Green River and plans to convert it into a transitional housing and services center for single mothers and their children, with a projected construction cost of about $18 million.
The McKinsey Home Project — a nonprofit proposing a residential and services campus for single mothers and their children — told the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners on April 1 that it has an accepted purchase offer on the former Washington School in Green River and is moving toward capital fundraising and design.
Founder Deborah Murchi said the organization, incorporated as a 501(c)(3), has raised ‘‘over 300,000’’ to date and hired consultants, an architect and a capital-campaign manager. Murchi said the overall project is "approximately an $18,000,000 project." The plan calls for demolishing the fire-damaged portions of the building and recreating the historic 1950s façade while building residential and program spaces.
Project details presented to the commission: - Capacity: housing for about 25 mothers with roughly two children each (project staff estimated turnover and varied lengths of stay could serve up to several hundred people annually). - Program space: classrooms, a multipurpose room available for community use, two conference rooms, and leasable office space on the top floor intended to generate ongoing revenue to offset maintenance. - Funding approach: private fundraising, grant applications and a capital campaign; the board’s feasibility study and a professional estimate put renovation costs near the project total.
Murchi said the nonprofit has engaged local partners including Wyoming Community Development Authority for potential infrastructure support and has invited Green River city leadership to collaborate on related public benefits. The board of the McKinsey Home currently includes members from Sweetwater County, Natrona County and Washakie County; the nonprofit said it wants more county representation to reflect the project’s statewide aims.
Commissioners and several present commissioners expressed support and appreciation for the concept and the group’s local commitment. Commissioner Slaughter noted personal ties to the building and wished the project success; Commissioner Richards asked about fundraising and was told most seed money thus far has paid professional fees (architect, surveyor, campaign manager) to advance the purchase and design.
The McKinsey Home group plans a fundraising banquet on April 26 and is continuing grant outreach. The organization presented renderings and a draft program plan to the commission for informational purposes; no county funding request was made at this meeting.
