Eugene Family YMCA receives $2-million in funding for new location

EUGENE, Ore. – On December 23rd, the Eugene
Family YMCA received $2 million in funding for its new location being
built on E 24th and Hilyard Street.

The funding came from the passing of the 2023 congressional
omnibus appropriations package, and through a collaborative effort from
outgoing Congressman Peter DeFazio, Senator Ron Wyden, and Senator Jeff
Merkley.

In a press release, Senator Wyden had this to say regarding
the funding being provided to the Y.

“Topnotch child care and expanded opportunities for
teenagers and STEM learning add up to a key quality-of-life piece in Eugene and
throughout Oregon,” Wyden said. “I’m thrilled the Eugene YMCA has
earned this significant federal investment for the working families it serves,
and glad the teamwork with the Y, Senator Merkley and Congressman DeFazio has
produced this successful result.”

With the new funding, the Y says it has big plans to best
utilize the money.

“The new Y will have a transformative impact on
children and youth throughout lane county from preschool through high
school,” said Brian Steffen, the Eugene Family YMCA CEO. “We’ll have
a STEM learning lab, makerspaces, and high school learning centers, and
preschool rooms as well.”

Makerspaces are rooms where people can interact with tools
like 3D printers, laser cutters, audio and video capture devices and more at no
additional cost.

The additional funding brings the total amount raised for
the new Y project to $44.3 million. The final cost is expected to be $48
million.

The importance of this additional funding has the Y hopeful
that the project could be completed with next to no debt.

“If we can build a new Y without debt, it has a
significant impact on the services that we can provide to the community,”
said Steffen. “Rather than paying loan or lending costs, we can reinvest
those into providing scholarships for low-income families to access the Y
programs. We can launch heavily subsidized programs, like our disease
prevention programs.”

The new Y will be approximately 75,000-square-feet, serving
thousands of children, families, and more in the Eugene community.

Construction of the new Y is expected to finish in December
of this year.

Community donations are still being accepted. If you would
like to donate, the link can be found on their website.