Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) is excited to share the news that the organization is moving its office and establishing its permanent headquarters and regional hub for climate and resilience in downtown Steamboat Springs at 602 Oak Street.
The YVSC Board and staff have been working strategically towards this for over two years, and recently had the unique opportunity to purchase off-market the historic “carriage house” on the corner of 6th and Oak Streets. The building aligns with YVSC’s current needs and longer-term vision to create a welcoming climate and resilience center to better serve its partners and community, enhancing its mission to serve as a leader, catalyst and resource for building a sustainable and resilient Yampa Valley region.
“The Board of Directors is thrilled to have YVSC taking this next step,” Sarah Loughran, YVSC Board Chair, said. “Establishing a climate resilience center, downtown close to key partners like the County and City, will enable us to provide cutting edge climate solutions to the community in an easily accessible location. We are very grateful to those individuals and organizations who have helped make this first step possible.”
Key to purchasing the building is YVSC’s partnership with the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF) and their Impact Investment Program, which provides investments to the nonprofit community at a rate of return that prioritizes community impact. YVSC’s 602 Oak building project is the fourth project to be funded by this important funding mechanism and demonstrates the ways YVCF leverages their investment portfolio to serve the needs of the community.
“We’re proud to have made other impact loans to support affordable housing, and excited that YVSC’s building project is the first in which we have leveraged our investment portfolio to support the financing needs of a local nonprofit organization,” Tim Wohlgenant, YVCF’s Chief Executive Officer, said. “We’re pleased to bring a small piece of what we invest in Wall Street home to Main Street, or more specifically, Oak Street in this case.”
“The opportunity to establish YVSC’s permanent headquarters now is significant,” says Michelle Stewart, YVSC’s Executive Director. “Everything we do now at the local level to address climate change and build resilience to the impacts of changing climate matters. Establishing this center signals our long-term commitment to serve — and better serve — our community and partners at a pivotal time.”
YVSC is grateful for its generous donors and its partnership with Alpine Bank lending, which together with YVCF, have made this move and purchase possible.
YVSC is in the process of moving out of its current rented location at 919 Oak Street, and its new location at 602 Oak will open April 7.
