Empower: abilities plans summer move to new HQ

After hitting its 40-year anniversary last year, a Springfield nonprofit will soon be on the move to a new Queen City home.

Empower: abilities, which provides thousands of services annually to its clientele of individuals with disabilities in a seven-county area, plans to relocate this summer to 3345 S. Campbell Ave. in a building formerly occupied by Cadence Bank, according to CEO Shannon Porter. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit announced in a news release its intentions to move from its current headquarters at 1450 W. Cambridge St. The move is driven by organizational growth and the need for expanded space to better serve individuals with disabilities and older adults throughout southwest Missouri, according to the release.

“Our services and reach have expanded significantly, and this move positions us for the next phase of thatgrowth,” Porter said in the release. “The new space allows us to operate more effectively, serve more individuals and increase our visibility within the community.”

Porter told Springfield Business Journal last year that the organization delivered more than 7,000 services to its clients in 2024, noting its service area covers Greene, Christian, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties.

The new location will allow the organization to increase capacity across multiple service areas, including advocacy, youth and adult programming and durable medical equipment access, according to the release. The larger footprint also will make room for an expanded durable medical equipment and assistive technology showroom, allowing individuals to explore mobility equipment and accessibility solutions in a hands-on environment.

“We will begin renovations to the property soon, most notably converting the drive-thru into a garage and workshop for our durable medical equipment recycling program,” Porter said via email, adding the organization purchased the property for $3.2 million with available funds. “Also, we will be utilizing the bank vault as a hearing testing and services office.”

Porter said Empower: abilities has sold its Cambridge Street property to The Arc of the Ozarks for an undisclosed price to offset relocation costs. The organization remains in the building on a short-term lease with The Arc of the Ozarks until renovations on its new headquarters are complete, she said.

Upon completion of renovations, the nonprofit’s new home will be just over 20,000 square feet, she said, an increase from its current 16,000-square-foot facility.

According to the release, in addition to increased square footage, the new site offers a more central and visible location, improved accessibility and convenient access to public transportation for its clients.

The relocation reflects a long-term investment in infrastructure that aligns with the organization’s mission, while supporting operational sustainability and service expansion, according to the release.

Aside from its client services, through a partnership with Convoy of Hope, Empower: abilities receives commodities such as household cleaning supplies, shelf-stable foods and personal care items it turns around and donates to the community several times a week. Additionally, it serves as a hub for donated durable medical equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs, provided to those in need at no cost. 

Revenue last year for Empower: abilities was $7.5 million, Porter said, a roughly 7% dip from 2024.

“We have seen a steady decline in our primary revenue source, the Home and Community Based Services program,” she said of the program, which is funded by both federal and state tax dollars. “We have actively been working to diversify our revenue and become more financially resilient, as the HCBS program reimbursement is subject to the state budget and has not kept pace with rising minimum wages. However, we have seen a significant increase in grant funding and have added new services funded by donors, grantors, insurance or offered as a fee for service.”