A new school-age child care center is planned for the campus of Kentucky Wesleyan College through a partnership with the Owensboro Family YMCA, officials announced Monday.
The center will be located on Kentucky Wesleyan property and is part of a project supported by a $6.6 million grant made possible through a federal earmark secured by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
College and YMCA leaders said the project is the result of extensive planning and discussions between the two organizations, which have a long history of serving the Owensboro community through education, youth development, and civic engagement.
“Kentucky Wesleyan College is proud to become the new home for this project,” Kentucky Wesleyan President Dr. James Cousins said in a statement. “The College and the YMCA are joined by missions and compelled by many of the same purposes: service, education, family support, and the long-term health of our community. This agreement is the result of many hours of careful consideration and work by so many people.”
Cousins said the center also fits into a broader vision for future campus development.
“This project belongs within a larger development plan for our campus,” he said. “As Kentucky Wesleyan adds amenities and features that strengthen the College, we also strengthen Owensboro. Those plans are still being developed, but this early childhood center is an important part of that larger vision. It represents the kind of campus growth that serves our students, our neighbors, and the city we call home.”
Tom Bontrager, president and CEO of the Owensboro Family YMCA, said the project will help address a growing need among local families.
“We are incredibly grateful to Kentucky Wesleyan College for their support in addressing one of the most significant needs facing working families in Owensboro today,” Bontrager said. “Access to affordable, high-quality school-age childcare remains a challenge for many families, and this partnership will help us expand services and create more opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.”
Bontrager said the YMCA is proud to continue expanding its relationship with the college while working to strengthen the community for future generations.
Kentucky Wesleyan Chief of Staff and Vice President of Operations Scott Kramer said the college carefully considered the project’s location and impact on campus before reaching an agreement.
“The college has not been able to offer childcare services on campus since 2000,” Kramer said. “Our two main objectives when considering this project were to protect the iconic front lawn of the Administration Building and to save as many trees as possible on the Scherm Road side of campus. We will accomplish both initiatives and add childcare to campus. This is a true partnership with the YMCA and a huge addition for Owensboro and Daviess County.”
Additional details, including construction timelines, site preparation, and programming plans, will be announced as they are finalized, officials said.
