YWCA North rendering, (Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – The YMCA of Grand Island has launched its “Building Brighter Futures” $6 million capital campaign to renovate the former Starr Elementary School building at 315 Wyandotte Street.
Amy Bennett, YWCA Executive Director, said the organization hopes to move into the renovated building in the spring of 2026. The YWCA purchased the building from Grand Island Public Schools in August 2024 for $500,000.
The YWCA hopes to begin construction by May.
“We will be able to more than double our childcare capacity, going from 115 children served to an estimated 300 children served in the renovated space,” Bennett said. She noted that in 2024, Hall County was short approximately 1,600 childcare spots, an increase from 1,200 the previous year.
“We are in a childcare crisis in Grand Island,” Bennett said.
Bennett explained why there is such a shortage of childcare spots.
“It is really hard to make money off of childcare,” she said. Staff members receive low pay and often don’t stay very long at a childcare location.
In addition to expanding childcare, the YWCA’s civic engagement and racial justice programs will also grow. The YWCA offers programs such as financial literacy classes, babysitting classes, racial justice training, and engages in Get Out The Vote work. The non-profit also houses Mission Menstruation and Happy Healthy Baby, which offer free period products and infant items to those in need, respectively.
The renovated facility will offer expanded childcare capacity, modernized classrooms and pay areas, and improved program offerings. Dedicated classroom space for Financial Empowerment and Digital Literacy classes will be offered. Year-round space for mYnight boutique, which offers special event clothing such as for proms to youth that may not have access otherwise.
Purchasing the former school was not something that the YWCA had planned to do.
“This was not on our bucket list,” Bennett said.
Bennett said that approximately one week before bids were due to Grand Island Public Schools, Mary Berlie, Executive Director of the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation, approached the YWCA about purchasing the building.
The expansion of the childcare program “helps meet a huge need in our community,” Berlie said. “By building accessible, high-quality childcare, we empower parents to work, provide stability for families, and create an environment where children can thrive. Childcare strengthens communities and fuels long-term economic growth.”
Just about everything in the building will need to be renovated, Bennett said.
The building does not have a functional kitchen.
“We have to have a fully functional kitchen,” Bennett said. Breakfast and lunch are served at the YWCA.
After the renovation is completed, the north entrance will go to the YWCA, and the east entrance will go to the Child Development Center.
The YWCA has been in its current location at 211 E. Fonner Park Road since 2000. The new site is a good location because it is close to South Locust Street and Starr and Stolley Park Elementary Schools.
“This is going to be a much better place for our location,” she said.
There will be two playgrounds – one for infants and toddlers and one for school-age children. The current playground does not meet childcare requirements, so it will have to be renovated.
“There are a lot of things required by childcare licensing,” Bennett said.
The YWCA currently provides after-school transportation to its childcare center. After moving into the new location, the YWCA would like to add before-school transportation.
A dance program called “Just for Dance” currently provides programming at the YWCA. In the new location, the dance program will have a separate entrance and space specifically for the program.
CMBA is the architectural firm for the project. A contractor for the project has not been selected. A public bid for the contractor will be issued, Bennett said.
During the capital campaign, naming rights will be available for various parts of the building, Bennett said.
