The United Way facility in Rincon is about to undergo some major renovations now that they no longer have to share the building with the YMCA.

“The layout’s gonna change,” noted director Bonnie Dixon.

The agency’s offices will move to the back of the building and the large open space formerly used by the YMCA will be divided up.

“We’re gonna break that up into some offices,” Dixon said.

In addition, the interior of the 12,000 square foot building will be painted, the bathrooms remodeled, new carpet and tile installed, the fire sprinkler system and air vents reconfigured, the entire building made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the technology infrastructure reworked so that every part of the facility may get a DSL connection.

Architect Anne Smith of Lominack, Kolman and Smith Architects of Savannah is working on the plans for the renovations.

The organization is accepting qualification materials from general contractors until Sept.10. This information will need to note the number of years the contractor has been in business, whether they are incorporated, licenses they hold, categories of work they have done, major construction projects they have done, trade and bank references and the name of their bonding company.

Smith, consulting engineer John Blewett and the United Way’s building committee will choose the general contractor later this month.

The plans will be released in late October. Sub-contractor bids will be received until mid-November for construction to begin in mid-December. Dixon said that the expected completion date is around the first of March.

The projected cost is around $350,000, which the United Way is trying to raise the funds to meet. None of its annual campaign dollars go toward capital improvements or administrative costs.

“We are seeking capital support,” said Dixon.

Donations from foundations, corporations and individuals are welcome. Checks should specify that the amount is for the capital improvements and may be sent to the United Way’s office.

Since the YMCA relocated to its new building, the United Way has a lot more room. Current co-occupants include the Royce Learning Center, Savannah Speech and Hearing, Parent and Child of Union Mission and Community Cardiovascular Counsel.

Soon, the Senior Service Center out of Savannah will move in, too. However, that still leaves two offices available for any organization whose business model does not conflict with the United Way’s mission.

For 12 years now the United Way has owned the building. A sewing factory first occupied the space, according to Dixon. In the late 1980s, the Effingham Board of Education bought it and used it as a kindergarten annex for children Rincon Elementary did not have space for. In 1995 United Way moved in after operating out of a 9 by 9 office in the Department of Children and Family Services in Springfield.

“It was awful,” Dixon said.

The office basically served as Dixon’s own office and services were provided off site at various locations in the county.

This made it hard for clients to stay informed of what was being offered where.

The BOE allowed them to use their current building rent free for three years. United Way bought it from them for $150,000 in 1998.

Dixon explained that the renovations will allow the agency to improve their services and programs. It will counter the mindset that social service offices should look drab and worn. On the contrary, she believes they should and can look nice. It boosts employee morale and makes clients feel better.

“We want people to feel like they matter,” she pointed out.

A total of 14 people are employed at the facility and close to 40 “great” volunteers work there.

Yet, the benefits of a more attractive facility go beyond those it serves or employs to the community at large.

“We would hate for our building to be an eyesore,” Dixon remarked. “We want it to be a benefit to all involved.”