WaterStep Purchases Building, Brings New Life to Old Louisville Neighborhood

Louisville, KY (July 26, 2012) – WaterStep, a nonprofit organization that works to save lives at risk from waterborne illness around the world, has just purchased a 38,000 sq. ft. building in Old Louisville that will serve as the organization’s new headquarters beginning this fall. The building, located at 625 Myrtle Street, has been vacant for over 6 years and needs cosmetic and capital improvements, including a new roof and the build out of office, warehouse, and manufacturing space to meet WaterStep’s needs. The organization plans to complete the renovations and begin operating in the new facility in early fall, just in time for the 2012 St. James Court Art Show which draws thousands of people to the neighborhood each year.

WaterStep has outgrown their current 10,000 sq. ft. facility, located at 1500 Arlington Avenue, and the additional space in the new building will allow the organization to increase their training programs and manufacturing of their water tools. Since its founding in 2001, then known as EDGE Outreach, WaterStep has provided safe drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people in developing communities and disaster areas in more than 23 countries including Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, India, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica.

While the building’s structure is secure, the property has been neglected and neighboring business and residents are happy to see someone take on the revitalization of the property.

“I am so pleased that WaterStep will bring new positive energy to the neighborhood,” says Patricia Davidson, President of Aztec Flooring, Inc. which is located at 626 Myrtle Street. “It is so nice to have an organization step up to renovate and utilize this building, which had become an eyesore in this fabulous Old Louisville community.”

WaterStep is currently seeking donations and funding to support the capital improvements needed for the new facility.

For more information, call (502) 568-6342 or visit www.waterstep.org.

WaterStep is a Louisville-based 501(c)(3) organization that provides solutions to the root causes of waterborne illness through an approach that combines unparalleled training and readily-available technology to empower self-sufficiency for people in crisis around the world. WaterStep is currently working to establish training centers in India, Costa Rica, and Haiti. To learn more, call (502) 568-6342 or visit www.waterstep.org.