Once upon a time, back in 2012 to be exact, a group of people set out to create a place that would serve as a model for how small towns lived, worked, and played into the 21st century. Small towns everywhere were suffering. And this new place would serve as a city within a city--bringing to the tiny community opportunities not found in small towns.

This new place would embrace people from all walks of life and bring learning, the arts, celebrations, activities for kids, entrepreneurs, and fitness and wellness opportunities. It would be a place where ideas are heard and turned into realities.

It would be a true community center. It would be called Town Square.

Nine years into writing that story, we’re finding out that it’s true -- Town Square is the model. This week, executives from Lincoln County, North Carolina, contacted us, and today, we spoke via zoom. Here’s how it went:

Lincoln County: We have a courthouse that we need to repurpose, and we are interested in how y'all have been making this work. We looked you up and saw the size of your town.

Us: Yes. It’s definitely a small town. But we’ve got wonderful and hardworking and generous people.

Lincoln County: It’s amazing what y’all have done. We’ve had nonprofits here who have taken over buildings, but they couldn’t maintain them. It just didn’t work.

Us: We’re a nonprofit, but we’re a nonprofit business. We came at this with a business plan. It’s always a balancing act. Balancing community needs with what people want with what will keep the organization running. Our budget is about half donations, and half earned income.

Lincoln County: How do you earn income?

Us: We have other nonprofits housed in the building and some tenants who help us achieve our mission and bring resources that we could never have in an organization our size. We rent out our flex spaces, like the ballroom and the Mill Pond Terrace, for events. And the rest, we cobble together any way we can. Our resale shop. Bingo games. Auctions.

Lincoln County: What about programming?

Us: Programming is a moneymaker for many community centers, but not for us. We need to keep our programs affordable for everyone.

Lincoln County: You have all of these opportunities available. And the roof hasn’t fallen in.

Us: (thinking: Don’t say that!) We have a lot of incredibly generous people here. They volunteer with time. They give of their talents. And they lend financial support.

Lincoln County: We’re getting a lot of groups together now. Our chamber. Our government. All of these groups together to talk about ideas.

Us: You can talk and talk. What makes the difference is actually taking the leap of faith. The most important element is passionate people who really care and will do whatever it takes. That’s what we have in Green Lake.

Lincoln County: Oops. My zoom is ending. Can I call you?

Us: Yes. But I need to write a story for our newsletter.

Lincoln County: OK. Can I stay in touch with you as we move forward?

Us: Absolutely (Thinking: gotta go, dude. We don’t make this joint work by yapping on the phone all day)