Groundbreaking Date: MONDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2023, AT NOON
Dixon, IL Thursday, November 16, 2023 – The Dixon Family YMCA announced today that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a new childcare facility at 1675 Fulfs Lane, Dixon, IL 61021 (West side of Galena Avenue, across from Walmart). The new facility will expand on services currently offered through the Y’s Lovett Child Development Center. This much-anticipated groundbreaking celebrates the new home of all childcare services for ages infant to age five.
Open to the community, this historic day will celebrate the YMCA’s commitment to youth and families in Dixon and surrounding communities. The new site for the Lovett Child Development Center will increase capacity to over 200 families and expand to include infant care through age five. The new site will house over twelve new classrooms, two gross motor skills rooms, kitchen services, a nurses station, two outdoor playgrounds, and an area for outside services from our partner agencies.
“The Y has a proud tradition of providing early childhood education and care since the early 1970s,” states Andy McFarlane, CEO of the YMCA. “We believe we can meet the critical need and limited services in our region at this time by expanding childcare services through the Y.” The new center is targeted to open mid to late 2024.
“I’ve spent much of my life learning and developing within Y child care programming. I’m excited to be able to expand our footprint and make these experiences available to all of our participants,” states Heather Grobe, Youth and Child Development Director at the YMCA.
This project’s cost is estimated at $4.6 million. The YMCA has already been named in a possible grant, receiving $1 million dollars. Conversations are also underway with a private donor that is setting a challenge match to local businesses and the public that will raise up to another $1 million. Donations can be made to the Dixon Family YMCA, and classroom naming rights will be determined and set for large gifts made to this project. Contact Andrew McFarlane at the YMCA for more information on how to make a gift.
The Dixon Family YMCA is proud to work with the XSITE Group and Walsh Partners to make this project happen. Converstations began back in September 2022 on how to address the space and capcity issues and all three organizations have been working closely together to finally be breaking ground this November 27, 2023. Representatives from all organizations and City officials will be in attendance at the Noon groundbreaking. “It has been a great experience working with Kevin Blaha, Tom Paul, Brett Paul, and Jennifer Thorstenson on developing these plans for future generations of youth served in our community,” states Andy McFarlane. “Making the necessary proposals, changes, and facilities for the childcare to grow as the community needs is a worthwhile project,” states McFarlane
The Dixon Family YMCA has received a pledge to receive a grant to ensure the beginning of this project. Further fundraising efforts will commence with a public campaign to ensure the project is fully funded.
About the Y
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening the community in Dixon and Lee County for more than 150 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y’s goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment, and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. Learn more at dixonymca.org.
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR MAKING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION:
Brett Paul, Tom Paul, Kevin Blaha, Jennifer Thorstenson, Danny Langloss, Heather Grobe, Aaqil Khan, The YMCA Board of Director, XSITE REAL ESTATE, & WALSH PARTNERS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
