$500,000 for Boothbay Region YMCA Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $500,000 for the Boothbay Region YMCA in the Fiscal Year 2023 Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill.  As the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins co-authored the bill. 

The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29.  It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Community institutions like the YMCA are wonderful assets for towns that bring families and neighbors together,” said Senator Collins.  “This funding for the Boothbay Region YMCA will expand access to child care, creating a safe, structured environment for children to play and learn while their parents are at work.”

"This investment in our childcare facility will enable us to better serve area families and businesses and support our region's efforts to attract and retain a workforce for critical sectors of the local economy," said Andy Hamblett, BRYMCA CEO. "We are grateful to Senator Collins for her advocacy on our behalf."

The funding will support a project to nearly double the size of the existing Child Enrichment Center, adding three new classrooms that are flexible and can be designated for various age groups depending on current demand by age group in any given year. 

A large multi-purpose space will also be incorporated to relocate the Y-ARTS program into the Center, and the space could be utilized by various early childhood classes throughout the rest of the day. 

The project also addresses accessibility and space issues at the McEvoy Lodge where afterschool and summer programs are housed for school-aged youth. Renovations at the Lodge will make it ADA accessible and add needed space to accommodate more children and youth in after school and summer programs.

The expansion and renovation will provide the following increases to capacity: 46 additional spaces for preschool and daycare, 26 additional spaces for after-school and school vacation days for school age children, and 100 additional spaces for summer care for school-age children.

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