New hub The Foundry houses 14 social impact organisations

It offers resources to incubate ideas, co-create and pilot solutions, and build communities

- Shermaine Ang

A hub that houses 14 social impact organisations tackling challenges in the community was launched by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Nov 28.

The Foundry, located at the former Elections Department (ELD) building in Prinsep Street, will provide these organisations with resources to incubate ideas, co-create and pilot solutions, and build communities.

A new Foundry Forward Fund will be set up to boost collaboration among social impact organisations. The fund has set aside $500,000 for The Foundry's occupants to access over the next two years.

The three-storey building, which served as the ELD office building for nearly 25 years until 2019, was rejuvenated in less than eight months and repurposed as a collective impact hub.

It used to be where the Returning Officer, whose duties include overseeing the conduct of polls and directing election officials, announced the results of each election since 1994.

The last result announced at the site was for the 2017 Presidential Election, when Madam Halimah Yacob ran unopposed.

At the launch of The Foundry on Nov 28, President Tharman quipped that the rejuvenated building has kept the "feel of an elections department". "That's how you restore buildings. Never lose history," he added.