OMAHA, Neb. — Girls Inc., the nonprofit known for inspiring girls to be “Strong, Smart, and Bold” through direct services and advocacy, has unveiled more details about its transformative new South Omaha Center project.

Announced Thursday, the upcoming facility will be located directly behind South High School and will retain its name as the Emma Lozier Center. The new space — a 36,000-square-foot renovated building — will be nearly five times larger than the current center, dramatically expanding capacity and programs for Omaha’s young women.

When completed, the center will accommodate up to 300 girls, offering a robust array of opportunities including:

• A full gymnasium for sports and fitness programs
• A makerspace for STEM learning and creative projects
• An educational kitchen to teach nutrition, cooking, and life skills

A Strategic Partnership Driving the Vision

“We are building a facility that will allow us to serve double the girls that we're serving today, 300 girls and a brand new facility off of 28th and L,” said Candias Jones, CEO of Girls Inc. in Omaha.

Jones credited Canopy South, a community development organization, with making the expansion possible:
“Canopy South has been our strategic partner, our thinker, and the reason we're able to do this new site. They were the ones who selected us and other partners to embark on this journey to rebuild and revitalize South Omaha and the South Omaha community. It's because of Canopy South we were able to get the $11 million that we needed to kick start our $33 million campaign.”

Funding Nearly Complete

The total project cost is estimated at $33 million, and as of this week, $32.2 million has already been raised through community donations, grants, and partnerships.

Construction is slated to begin in October 2025 and is expected to be completed by 2027.

Why This Matters for South Omaha

The Emma Lozier Center’s expansion is part of a broader revitalization initiative for South Omaha, aiming not only to provide safe, educational, and empowering spaces for girls but also to strengthen community infrastructure.

The larger facility will allow Girls Inc. to:

• Offer more after-school and summer programs
• Expand college and career readiness initiatives
• Provide increased mentorship and leadership opportunities
• Serve as a community hub for events, family resources, and partnerships

This project builds on Girls Inc.’s long-standing mission to equip girls with the confidence, skills, and support networks they need to break barriers and achieve their full potential.

With funding nearly secured and a construction timeline in place, South Omaha residents can expect the new Emma Lozier Center to become a cornerstone of youth development in the city for decades to come.

Originally reported by Ana Ruth Lugo Mejia in Metro-News Channel Nebraska.