YMCA expanding services for inner city area

By Tracy Kershaw-Staley
DBJ Staff Reporter

Following a burst of suburban growth, the YMCA of Greater Dayton is refocusing on its urban core.

During the past four years, the nonprofit has spent $30 million building branches in West Carrollton, Springboro, Englewood, Eaton and Huber Heights. The strategy -- to build membership and improve cash flow through suburban facilities -- worked. About 14,000 families now belong to the YMCA, up from 2,200 families in 1995. The annual budget has grown from $5 million in 1995 to $14 million today, a 180 percent increase. It employs 800 people, compared with 200 staff members and administrators 10 years ago.

Now the organization is working on its urban presence, committing $1 million during the next four years to a new program called Neighborhood Development Centers. The plan includes opening six neighborhood development centers, three on the east side of Dayton and three on the west, by the end of 2005, said Tim Helm, executive director of the YMCA of Greater Dayton.

In addition, the organization is spending several hundred thousand dollars to renovate the downtown Dayton branch, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this month. The two-year project will include expanding the size of the fitness area and adding more equipment.

"It was by design that we would go do the new suburban branches as a way to reach more people and improve cash flow," Helm said. "You step back and say what are we not doing as well, and one of the things that came back was the urban core and urban work."

The neighborhood development centers will focus on programs such as computer training, music and arts, said Steve Gill, executive director of the West YMCA and director of the neighborhood development programs.

"We're growing from the idea that the Y is more than a gym-and-swim," Gill said.

To develop the centers, the YMCA is using the same strategy it used in the suburbs: partnerships.

The YMCA financed its suburban growth through fund raising and partnerships. Of the $30 million spent on new construction, $10 million has come from fund-raising and $20 million from partnerships with churches, hospitals and city governments.

"It was working so well on the outside (of the city) that we wanted to make sure we were doing it on the inside," Gill said.

Across the country, more than 1,000 YMCAs collaborate with churches and more than 1,000 partner with hospitals, said Ken Gladish, executive director of YMCA of the USA, the national organization.

YMCAs also join with economic development groups and community development centers to expand their services and build new facilities, he said.

The YMCA of Greater Dayton will partner with Dixon United Methodist Church for its first neighborhood development center, which will be at the site of what was the West YMCA. The church will operate the facility while the YMCA provides the programming and staff.

The YMCA of Greater Dayton was losing about $250,000 a year on operations at the West facility; much of that deficit came from building operations. Transferring the ownership of the building to Dixon will allow the YMCA to redirect that money to the neighborhood centers.

The YMCA didn't want to pull out of the neighborhood for several reasons, among them a partnership with the Dayton Academy, a 1,200-student charter school next door. But the YMCA couldn't continue operating the facility at such as large deficit, Gill said.

Another neighborhood center will open Oct. 4 at Cross Point United Methodist Church in Trotwood.

In Trotwood, the Cross Point United Methodist Church is in a renovated IGA grocery store. It has a large computer lab and a talented music staff that Helm hopes to tap into for the programming.

Gill is developing the program offerings from a national YMCA initiative. The initiative stresses 40 developmental assets that measure how likely a child is to avoid risky behavior, be successful and build resiliency. Gill plans to survey children at the West YMCA and at YMCA Cross Point this year to see which assets they already have and what the YMCA can help build. National surveys show the average child has 19 of the 40 assets, which range from family support to reading for pleasure.

"We want to move from just trying to survive here to playing a significant role," Gill said.

Memberships at the development centers will be less expensive than memberships at other YMCA of Greater Dayton locations, although the organization's financial assistance program offers reduced fees at all of its facilities.

Across the country, more than 1,000 YMCAs collaborate with churches and more than 1,000 partner with hospitals, said Ken Gladish, executive director of YMCA of the USA, the national organization.

YMCAs also join with economic development groups and community development centers to expand their services and build new facilities, he said.

The YMCA of Greater Dayton will partner with Dixon United Methodist Church for its first neighborhood development center, which will be at the site of what was the West YMCA. The church will operate the facility while the YMCA provides the programming and staff.

The YMCA of Greater Dayton was losing about $250,000 a year on operations at the West facility; much of that deficit came from building operations. Transferring the ownership of the building to Dixon will allow the YMCA to redirect that money to the neighborhood centers.

The YMCA didn't want to pull out of the neighborhood for several reasons, among them a partnership with the Dayton Academy, a 1,200-student charter school next door. But the YMCA couldn't continue operating the facility at such as large deficit, Gill said.

Another neighborhood center will open Oct. 4 at Cross Point United Methodist Church in Trotwood.

In Trotwood, the Cross Point United Methodist Church is in a renovated IGA grocery store. It has a large computer lab and a talented music staff that Helm hopes to tap into for the programming.

Gill is developing the program offerings from a national YMCA initiative. The initiative stresses 40 developmental assets that measure how likely a child is to avoid risky behavior, be successful and build resiliency. Gill plans to survey children at the West YMCA and at YMCA Cross Point this year to see which assets they already have and what the YMCA can help build. National surveys show the average child has 19 of the 40 assets, which range from family support to reading for pleasure.

"We want to move from just trying to survive here to playing a significant role," Gill said.

Memberships at the development centers will be less expensive than memberships at other YMCA of Greater Dayton locations, although the organization's financial assistance program offers reduced fees at all of its facilities.

[From the Dayton Business Journal: 09.17.2004]