The Mid-Willamette Family YMCA in Albany, OR, has received a $854,000 tax credit that Y officials say will enable them to complete construction of a long-awaited $17 million facility later this year.
The tax credit from the state of Oregon is part of the New Markets Tax Credits program, which provides tax credits for development in low-income communities.
With that funding boost in place, Jim Asleson, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Y, is projecting that the new home for the Y will be ready to welcome members in October or November. Community fund-raising will continue while the building is being completed.
"Folks finally want to see it done," Asleson says. "We've had some amount of donor fatigue, but that's been replaced with enthusiasm about reaching the finish line."
Construction of the new 60,340-square-foot facility began in 2012, but difficulties in securing sufficient funding for the project has pushed back completion several times. One setback occurred in June 2014 when the Y did not receive a $3.5 million federal tax credit that it had sought. Asleson says the Y has reapplied for that credit.
When completed, the new facility will be two-and-a-half times the size of the existing facility, a 70-year-old building that started as a farm implement store. The Y has occupied the facility since 1960.
"The new building will give us the capacity to do more," Asleson says. "Our membership will double."
Instead of one 3,000-square-foot gym, the new space will have two 7,500-square foot gyms. A four-lane swimming pool will be replaced by a six-lane pool as well as a family fun indoor water feature. It also will have two group exercise studios, a strength and cardio training center, a youth center, racquetball courts, locker rooms and meeting rooms.
"We will have a more efficient, spacious facility to effectively serve our community," Asleson says.