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United Way details ARPA-funded nonprofit hub at 700 Mount Hope in Bangor
Summary
United Way told the council it used a $400,000 ARPA award to acquire and renovate a 9,800 sq ft property at 700 Mount Hope as a nonprofit hub, with four offices rented, meeting space already in use and a slate of upcoming trainings and capacity-building programs.
United Way representatives updated the council on an ARPA-supported project to create a nonprofit hub in Bangor.
Matt Donahue, vice president at United Way and a Bangor resident, said the organization received a $400,000 ARPA award to help acquire and renovate a property at 700 Mount Hope. Donahue said the organization’s six-county service area includes Penobscot, Hancock, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington counties and that the hub occupies roughly 9,800 square feet after a renovation completed this fall.
Donahue said the hub combines office space for nonprofit tenants, shared meeting rooms and programming space. “We already have four of the offices that are rented,” he said, adding that meeting spaces are already hosting board retreats, peer groups for executive directors and training sessions. Donahue described plans to offer incubator support for people considering starting a 501(c)(3), board leadership training, volunteer-center services and hybrid programming to include more remote participants across the service area.
On funding, Donahue said the hub was built using the ARPA allocation along with private donors, corporate partners and in-kind donations of furniture and materials. He described the approach as stretching donor dollars through partnerships and in-kind support.
Councilors asked whether the hub’s incubator would include business-management training. Donahue said the incubator will assess whether founders’ skills match their mission, help create business plans that include fundraising and board and IRS requirements, and refer founders to fiscal sponsorship when appropriate. He said United Way will provide local, hands-on support in addition to pointing people to statewide online guides.
Donahue said upcoming public programming includes a Feb. 26 financial-statements session with KeyBank and a Canva branding workshop. He offered to provide the council with presentation slides and contact information for follow-up.
The council did not take any formal action during the workshop; United Way representatives said slides and handouts would be emailed to council members.
