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Gillespie Center director urges Orono to consider $12,000 annual support amid rebrand
Summary
Rhonda Nelson, who said she joined the Gillespie Center earlier this year as a consultant, told the Orono City Council the independent nonprofit is rebranding and asked area cities to consider $1,000 per month ($12,000 annually) to help reach break-even in the first year and expanded programming goals.
Rhonda Nelson, who said she came to the Gillespie Center earlier this year as a consultant, told the Orono City Council on Sept. 9 that the senior-center nonprofit has rebranded, boosted membership and programming and is asking area cities for financial support as it seeks to stabilize operations.
Nelson said membership is up roughly 9% and programming usage is up about 14% since the strategy refresh. She told council members the center operates as an independent 501(c)(3) and that annual operating costs run about $280,000. For the coming year the center is requesting $12,000 from Orono ("$1,000 a month") to help reach a break-even target and support new programming, including health seminars, Medicare information sessions and multigenerational activities.
"We were kind of going in a downward trend and operating in the red," Nelson said, summarizing the changes the board adopted and the center's short- and long-term goals for membership, revenue and programming.
Mayor Denny Walsh and others praised the center's outreach; City Administrator Adam was identified as the staff contact to follow up with Gillespie leadership on any budget request during the city's upcoming budget process. Nelson said the center hopes to achieve break-even in one year and 10% profitability within five years.
The Gillespie Center noted several local partnerships and fundraising activities the center has expanded, including a bakery program, seminars with Ridgeview Medical and planned anniversary events in 2025.
Nelson closed by asking the council to consider the $12,000 request in the 2025 budget and offering to follow up with staff. City staff and council members said they would review the request during budget deliberations.
