The Town House marks first anniversary with ribbon cutting

A Community Posting Submitted by the Washington County Community Action Coalition

What began as a simple lease signed with a vision has grown into a community-built space now entering its second year in Salem.

The Town House recently celebrated its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony and officially joined the Chamber of Commerce, marking another step forward in its growth as a public community hub. The origins of the space are deeply rooted in shared vision and determination.

On March 28, 2025, Renee Mather and a founding partner signed the lease for the property, beginning what would become a broader effort centered on connection, collaboration, and community investment in Washington County. “We didn’t wait for perfect timing. We just knew it mattered.”

In the months that followed, support for the project steadily grew. Conversations happened quietly, and people became involved one at a time, drawn by a shared belief in what the space could become. An anonymous $50,000 donation shortly after the lease was signed made it possible to think beyond renting. Within four months, the building was purchased.

Former owner Teresa Quay is credited as an important part of that transition. “Her belief in this made a difference. She helped make it possible.” With support from residents, volunteers, donors, and community partners, the project continued to grow and eventually expanded into two nonprofit organizations: Washington County Community Action Coalition, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, and Indiana Community Action Network, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. Together, the organizations support a shared community hub focused on civic engagement, education, collaboration, creativity, and long-term investment in Washington County.

The space now regularly hosts civic engagement events, public community meetings, Narcan and de-escalation trainings, life skills workshops, mental health support groups, membership-sponsored community groups such as QSA, game nights, collaborative organizing efforts, and other community events, with more programming continuing to develop. It has also served as a place for mutual aid, emergency refuge, and ongoing collaboration between local residents and organizations.

Support for the space has come in many forms, including financial contributions, donated furniture and artwork, volunteer labor, professional services, and countless hours of community participation. “This didn’t happen because of one person. It happened because people showed up.” Organizers point to a broad network of support that includes board members, volunteers, advisors, families, donors, and community members who contributed behind the scenes from the earliest days of the project.

The Town House has often been described as a “community living room,” intended to feel open, welcoming, and shared by people from all walks of life. Organizers say the goal moving forward is not simply to host events, but to continue building an accessible, community-driven space that encourages connection, civic participation, creativity, education, and shared problem-solving across Washington County.

“This is not an exclusive place. It is a space for the community, built to reflect the people who live here and the future they want to create together.”

As The Town House moves into its second year, organizers say that invitation continues to grow. “To everyone who has been part of this, your time, your energy, your belief — it’s part of this space. That doesn’t go away. It grows.”

“This is just the beginning.”