Healthy Shelby County opens The CommunityLink, bringing Shelby County nonprofits under one roof

Healthy Shelby County has officially opened The Mary Jane Reed & Robert W. Reed CommunityLink, a new 31,000-square-foot nonprofit center designed to strengthen collaboration among local organizations and make community resources more accessible to individuals and families throughout Shelby County.

Located on a three-acre campus at 2311 S. Miller Street in Shelbyville, The CommunityLink brings multiple nonprofit and community-service organizations together in one location. The center provides office space, meeting and program areas, shared resources and opportunities for organizations to work alongside one another in serving the community.

The vision behind The CommunityLink is straightforward: when organizations are connected, resources can be shared more effectively, partnerships can grow, and people can have greater access to the support they need.

“This has always been about more than a building,” said Ashley Martin, executive director of Healthy Shelby County. “The CommunityLink gives organizations an opportunity to connect in ways that simply aren't possible when everyone is working separately. We want people to walk through these doors and know that they are in a place where they can find help, build connections and feel supported.”

The CommunityLink includes a number of shared and community-focused resources, including a food pantry and distribution center, training kitchen, computer lab, meeting and training spaces, reception and engagement areas, and indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support children and families. The facility also creates opportunities for Healthy Shelby County to expand healthy-living programs and community initiatives that encourage physical activity, nutrition, connection and overall well-being.

One of the center's most important functions will be helping individuals and families navigate the resources available throughout Shelby County. Rather than requiring residents to know which organization to contact first, The CommunityLink provides a central location where people can begin connecting with the appropriate resources.

“This is about making the system of support easier to navigate,” Martin said. “A person may come here for one reason and discover that another organization in the building can help with something else they are facing. That's the kind of connection we hope happens every day at The CommunityLink.”

The center also provides a physical environment where organizations can learn from one another, share resources and develop collaborative programs. With nonprofit organizations serving a wide range of needs located within the same facility, Healthy Shelby County believes The CommunityLink can become a catalyst for new partnerships and innovative approaches to community service.

The development of The CommunityLink represents a significant investment in Shelby County and was made possible through the support of community donors, foundations, businesses, organizations and individuals who contributed to the vision.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in this project and helped us bring it to life,” Martin said. “But opening the doors is really just the beginning. The true measure of The CommunityLink will be what happens inside these walls and the difference those connections make for people across Shelby County.”

Healthy Shelby County invites community members, local businesses, civic leaders and other interested individuals to learn more about The CommunityLink and the organizations working within the facility.

An official open house is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 from 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. at The CommunityLink.