Good Neighbor Podcast: Auburn and Opelika
With her genuinely good heart and a wealth of experience behind her, Susannah works to connect local business and non-profit leaders to their neighbors. In a community like ours in which so many have invested their lives, there are fantastic stories all around us that motivate and inspire, often right next door. She hopes to share some of those here, on the Good Neighbor Podcast. Book an interview today at GNPAuburn.com
Good Neighbor Podcast: Auburn and Opelika
Ep.#122: NonProfit Center of East Alabama
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We sit down with Carrie Thomas and Beth Lomenick to share how the Nonprofit Center of East Alabama turns a renovated building into real, affordable support for 501(c)(3) organizations. We walk through office rentals, event space, collaboration perks, and the outdoor expansion plans that aim to bring more community events to the Auburn and Opelika area.
• the mission to strengthen nonprofit capacity through education, resources, and affordable space
• office rentals for nonprofits with utilities, Wi‑Fi, mailbox, copier, and furnished options
• meeting rooms and event spaces for trainings, seminars, fundraisers, and civic groups
• commercial kitchen access and on-site catering options
• the origin story tied to a clear community need for space beyond fundraising
• outdoor phase plans including shaded seating, amphitheater space, and walking path
• how to find the center on social media, the website, and by phone
334-749-8481 www.nonprofitcenter.org
Welcome And Guest Introductions
SPEAKER_00This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Suzanne Hodges.
SPEAKER_03Welcome. And with me today, I have Carrie Thomas. She is the director of the Nonprofit Center of East Alabama. And along with her, I have Beth Lominick, and she is the operations manager there. Welcome.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for having us today, Susanna.
What The Nonprofit Center Offers
SPEAKER_03Well, tell me, what is this nonprofit center of East Alabama?
SPEAKER_01Okay, well, we are a new facility in the area. Most people will recognize this facility as the old Elks Lodge that is on Opalica Road. And the Stanford Cannon Foundation purchased this building and completely renovated it. It is a 17,000 square foot building that exists to help nonprofits in the East Alabama area. I will tell you our mission is to strengthen the organizational capacity of nonprofits in East Alabama through education, resources, and affordable space. Right now, as we get off the ground, we've really been in the building maybe two months. So we're still very new. But one of the primary resources that we're offering the community right now is affordable space. And just to give you an example, probably half of the building is set up for office space so that nonprofits can rent offices at an affordable rate. And then the other half of the building, if you will, is set up for events, meeting space, trainings, that kind of thing. We have a couple of rooms on the other side of the building that are set up to be, you know, can be set up various ways, but primarily for you know civic organizations to have meetings or fundraisers or trainings, seminars, things like that. We have also a commercial kitchen here, and we have an on-site caterer who is leasing that space, Lynn and Lee. And so they offer catering to organizations that may have events here. If they wish, they can use utilize our on-site caterer, but they can also bring in their own catering as well. And one thing I'd like to mention as well: some of the amenities that we offer for like our nonprofit tenants, they get a fully furnished office if they wish. We we fully furnished it with office furniture. Um, they get all of their utilities, including Wi-Fi, internet connection, they get a dedicated address and a mailbox here, um commercial copier, printer. We have a break room that they can utilize, and then we have two conference rooms that the nonprofits can use for meetings and trainings and that kind of thing. But there's another really important thing, too, I think that our tenants get that's a value add with the space is just the collaboration with the other nonprofits that are tenants here. Um, the access to community events and the trainings that we're hosting. We're in a prime location in this county. Um, and so I think that helps increase their visibility to the community as well. Um, Beth, I don't know if there's anything else you want to want to add, maybe talk about the second phase.
Outdoor Expansion And Amphitheater Plans
SPEAKER_01We have another phase that we haven't even talked about yet.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, still under construction is our outdoor space. Um, it does have some bench seating, um uh flower pots, and then a pergola, so it will be some shaded and open area. And then beyond that is amphitheater space, so we could do a fundraising concert, something like that with some seating, and then behind that's kind of a garden area with a walking path, so kind of relax, maybe have some nonprofit meetups, um sessions, anything like that to kind of get outside, get in the community, get the community here. Um, it's gonna be really exciting. So that's still under construction right now. Um, we don't have a timeline, but we're anticipating it.
SPEAKER_03Well, I've had the privilege of taking a look at your space, and it is beautiful. And you know, driving up and down up like a road, you kind of watched what's going on over there, and it really is a nice facility for for nonprofits. I can't wait to see the outdoor area when y'all get that finished.
The Need That Sparked The Center
SPEAKER_03Well, tell me a little bit about why and how this came to be, like the journey into the nonprofit center. It obviously comes with an idea. So, what kind of set these that got this ball rolling?
SPEAKER_01Well, um, you know, the the Sanford Cannon Foundation has established this facility, and this was, you know, their their vision in purchasing this building to be of benefit to nonprofits in this community. Um, I think it initially started in a conversation with one specific nonprofit. Um, they asked how what what their biggest challenge was in this community, other than fundraising. I mean, that's a that's a challenge for all nonprofits, obviously, is in that's constant is fundraising. But outside of that, what's what's their biggest challenge? And they said space. Um just to do programming, to have meetings. Um, and so at the about the same time, um, this building came for sale. And um the the Stanford Cannon Foundation real realized that this could be a great resource um because it is such a large building, but just the location of where I was gonna say that.
SPEAKER_03I was right on my tongue. The location, it's like right in the middle between Auburn and Opalika. It really is perfect.
SPEAKER_01It is a perfect location, and I think that's why it works so well. Um and um it straddles actually the the both of the city limit lines. Part of the property actually is in Opalika. We have an Auburn address, um, but there were nine acres that came with this facility. Um, and so you know, Beth mentioned the outdoor area. There's um also a smokehouse that that's here um that organizations could use for for you know to for fundraisers to help them um with their mission. So I think that it really started because uh Stanford Cannon Foundation's been in this community for over 20 years. Um and they've primarily been a grant-making organization. They've they've helped a lot of nonprofits with grants in this community, um, but they've they've sort of but been under the radar. They haven't done a lot of you know promotion of publicity about what they're doing. They've helped a lot of people and they're very they've been very generous. But this project um was even more intentional um when they realized the need um for for something like this. And um, and so there are other nonprofit centers in the country. We've we've done some research and um there's actually a network, an association, if you will, of other nonprofit centers. So we've we've become involved with that um network and and tried to understand what best practices are and what other nonprofit centers are doing, what uh services, amenities, resources they're offering. Um but I but I think it really just was a light bulb that went off. Um for you know, Lucinda and Cannon and Race Cannon, who were um, you know, officers with the board of directors, that this was they could feel a great need, and at the same time renovate a a structure that's been here a long time that was um, you know, that really needed to be rehabbed.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, I think it's really important that you guys have have renovated an existing space instead of building something new. It's so important to take advantage of the property and the the the buildings that we have already first, and you really have done a good job with it.
Carrie And Beth Beyond Work
SPEAKER_03Well, let's stop for a minute and talk about you guys personally. Um, Beth, why don't we start with you? What do you like to do for fun when you're not being the operations manager?
SPEAKER_02Well, um, I do have a busy five-year-old little boy. Oh um, so we just started some t-ball, so we're being doing that at nights, and then I do love to travel. Um, so love to get out there. Auburn sports is huge. Grew up Auburn, love Auburn, so I try and attend what I can when I can. So that's mostly it.
SPEAKER_01Well, how about you, Carrie? Well, I'm a little bit on the opposite end as far as um children go. My my youngest just graduated from high school, so my husband and I are empty nesters, recently empty nesters, and so um we also just moved to the Auburn area about eight months ago. So um we're big sports fans and we enjoy attending all Auburn University sporting events in our free time. But we've had fun just exploring this area. I graduated from Auburn years ago, so it's not a new, it's not new to me. Um it's like coming home, but it's there's so much new here, and and so we'd we've had fun just exploring, finding new restaurants, festivals, community events to attend, um, and um and traveling to see our our children as well.
SPEAKER_03So well, very good, very
Open Now Pricing And Who It Serves
SPEAKER_03good. Well, what is one thing that you wish people knew about the nonprofit center of East Alabama that they may not realize?
SPEAKER_01Okay. Well, um I'll say, and and Beth may have something as well, but I think one primary thing, this is as simple as it gets, but that we are officially open. I mean, we are now open for a business. Um, we have um three nonprofits that are leasing space now and that are tenants. Um and then and we are booking events um in the event and the meeting and and seminar rooms. Um, so we're fully open and operational. So want to make sure that that listeners know that. Um I mean there's still construction going on outside and that kind of thing, but the building is open. So I want to make sure that that people know that. Um, and then also just just that while um this center is for nonprofits and 501c3 organizations, um, we are charging for spaces that are used here. Um, it is not free, but it is priced very affordably under market value. And there was an intention with that as well to make sure that that's helpful for nonprofits to save on their budgets and their overhead. Um, so we encourage all 501c3 organizations in this area to reach out to us.
SPEAKER_03Okay. All right. Well, let's
Contact Details And Closing
SPEAKER_03see. How can we get in touch with you, Beth? What are the best ways to reach out to find out more about the center?
SPEAKER_02So we do have several ways. Um we do have Instagram and Facebook, and our keywords are nonprofit center of East Al. So it's A L. And that's for both of them. We also have our website, it is nonprofitcenter.org available. And then of course they could always call us. It's 334-749-8481.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Well, I really have enjoyed talking with you both today. Thank you so much for joining me, and I appreciate your time.
SPEAKER_02Yes, thank you for having us. Thank you, Susanna. We enjoyed it.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Auburn. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP Auburn.com. That's GNP Auburn.com. Or call three three four four two nine seven four zero.