Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
YMCA Seeks Public Input on Building New Branch
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown YMCA is looking at building a new branch in western Mahoning County and is seeking public feedback on where such a facility should be built and what programs and services it should offer.
The YMCA announced this morning it’s working with Youngstown State University to conduct an online survey and community focus groups.
“We have an opportunity to expand the mission of the YMCA,” says Timothy Hilk, CEO of the nonprofit association. “Two key elements of our recently completed strategic plan call for maintaining a strong downtown Youngstown facility and exploring opportunities to expand programs and services that are consistent with the YMCA mission.”
A YMCA branch in western Mahoning County would serve the Austintown, Canfield, Mineral Ridge, Ellsworth and North Jackson areas, he says. A preliminary survey performed by a national firm earlier this year “indicated that just from a population and demographics standpoint, the YMCA could be successful [in western Mahoning County,” Hilk says. “Our next step is to partner with YSU to do a program needs and site assessment.”
The online survey will be available through Nov. 2. It can be accessed here, and takes five to seven minutes to complete, says Richard Hahn, a YMCA trustee and chairman of the New Branch Committee that’s studying the feasibility of the expansion project.
“There’s a lot to consider prior to the board making a decision on moving forward,” Hahn says.
Before a location, facility size, budget and timeline are in place, the types of programs and services a new branch would offer must be established, he explains.
A new branch would likely sit on “10 to 12 acres,” says CEO Hilk, and be “70,000 to 80,000 square feet” in size.
The Y’s New Branch Committee has identified “some preliminary sites on the Mahoning Avenue corridor and towards Canfield,” Hilk says. “We haven’t necessarily struck any permanent deals on those sites, but they look like they would be appropriate for a facility.”
Information gathered from the online survey and focus groups will be given to the YMCA Board of Trustees “by the end of the year so they can determine the next step,” the CEO says.
The Youngstown YMCA was founded in 1882, and consists of three branches: Central, the Davis Branch in Boardman and Camp Fitch YMCA on Lake Erie.
Hilk emphasizes a separate committee is concurrently studying how the Y can best expand services and programs at Central. “We are looking at a number of options for making major improvements to our downtown building and enhancing the programs we offer there.”
The Central Branch “is our flagship,” he says. “It’s extremely important, so anything we do in the future, whether it’s in western Mahoning County or even how we program at the Davis YMCA, it’s with the best interests of the downtown YMCA in mind.”
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.