Published 1:06 am Tuesday, March 17, 2026
By Staff Report
SALISBURY — More than 150 community members, business leaders and partners gathered Monday evening in downtown Salisbury for a sneak peek of a new collaborative initiative taking shape inside the historic Oestreicher Building. A fixture of the Salisbury skyline for more than a century, the building is being reimagined as the HUB: A Center for Collaboration, a project designed to bring local non-profit organizations together to strengthen Rowan County.
Created as a shared space for innovation and partnership, the HUB will provide a place where nonprofits, educators, businesses and civic organizations can work side-by-side to address community challenges, spark new ideas and build lasting impact.
The preview event offered guests an early look at the vision for the space while also highlighting the opportunity for the community to play a role in bringing the project fully to life. Continued financial support and community partnerships will help transform the historic building into a vibrant center for collaboration that will serve Rowan County for generations to come. Momentum for the project was evident during the event when an anonymous donor announced a $50,000 gift to support the initiative, an investment that signals growing excitement and belief in the HUB’s vision.
The Rowan Chamber co-hosted the evening’s gathering as part of its Business After Hours program, bringing together community leaders, partners and supporters for the preview event. The evening was made possible through the support of Miller Davis Agency, New Sarum Brewing Company and Food Lion, whose investment reflects growing excitement around the HUB and its collaborative vision.
Anchor tenants joined the preview event, representing the collaborative vision that will shape the future of the HUB. Smart Start Rowan continues its work supporting early childhood development and family resources across the community. Catawba College’s Social Entrepreneurship Lab will connect students, faculty and nonprofit partners while strengthening relationships between higher education, the arts and community leadership. The Salisbury Symphony adds a vibrant cultural presence, enriching both the space and the broader community through music, creativity and the arts. The HUB will also serve as the future home of Salisbury’s Getting Ahead program, delivered in partnership with Main Street Marketplace, Smart Start Rowan and Food Lion’s Feed the Need initiative. Rowan County United Way leads the HUB initiative and will also serve as an anchor tenant in the space.
Monday night’s gathering demonstrated strong community support for the HUB and a shared belief in the power of collaboration. Community members, businesses and philanthropic partners are invited to learn more about the initiative and explore opportunities to support the project at thehubinitiative.com.
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