The Owensboro Family YMCA, in partnership with Kentucky Wesleyan College, is excited to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony for its new childcare center on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM on the Kentucky Wesleyan College campus.
This groundbreaking marks another significant milestone in the YMCA’s ongoing commitment to addressing the critical shortage of affordable, high-quality childcare in Owensboro and Daviess County.
The new childcare center is made possible in part through $6.6 million in federal funding secured with the support of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. The project represents an important investment in the future of local children, working families, and the community’s economic development.
“Just a few years ago, our YMCA was serving approximately 40 children in our childcare programs. Today, we are serving more than 200 children, and we anticipate serving more than 300 next year,” said Tom Bontrager, President and CEO of the Owensboro Family YMCA. “This growth demonstrates just how great the need is in our community. We have families who desperately need childcare so they can go to work, support their families, and know their children are in a safe, nurturing environment.”
The new facility will provide expanded opportunities for school-age childcare and youth development programming. By relocating school-age programs to the Kentucky Wesleyan College campus, the YMCA will also be able to repurpose existing classrooms at its main facility to serve additional infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children.
“Kentucky Wesleyan has been a part of Owensboro since 1858, and our mission has always reached beyond the edge of campus,” said Dr. Stephen Germic, interim president of Kentucky Wesleyan. “Welcoming the YMCA’s new childcare center to our campus is a natural extension of who we are. We are grateful to the YMCA for its leadership and for the investment that made this possible. This is what it looks like for a college and its community to grow together.”
This expansion comes at a critical time as Owensboro continues to experience a shortage of childcare options, particularly for infants and toddlers.
“One of the things I am most proud of is that approximately 82% of the children in our childcare programs attend at no cost to their families,” Bontrager added. “We believe that a family’s income should never determine whether their child has access to quality childcare. Our YMCA has made a commitment to remove those financial barriers, and this new facility will allow us to continue expanding that mission.”
“Affordable, high-quality childcare is one of the most pressing needs facing families in Owensboro and Daviess County,” said Keith Sharber, chair of the KWC Board of Trustees. “Kentucky Wesleyan is proud to provide a home for this center and to stand alongside the YMCA in serving the families who make this community what it is. This partnership reflects the College’s commitment to the city we have called home for 75 years, and we believe it will create lasting good for our community for generations to come.”
The Owensboro Family YMCA has also achieved Kentucky’s highest childcare quality designation, a 5 STAR rating, demonstrating its commitment to providing exceptional early childhood education and care.
The partnership with Kentucky Wesleyan College will create additional opportunities to connect education, workforce development, and community service while strengthening the YMCA’s ability to meet the growing needs of local families.
“This project is about so much more than constructing a new building,” Bontrager said. “It is about giving parents the opportunity to work, providing children with a strong foundation for their future, and making Owensboro a better place to live and raise a family. We are incredibly grateful to Kentucky Wesleyan College, Senator McConnell, our local and state leaders, and the many community partners who have helped make this possible.”
The YMCA anticipates completion of the new childcare center in the fall of 2027.
About the Owensboro Family YMCA
The Owensboro Family YMCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Through its childcare programs, youth development initiatives, water safety education, wellness programs, and community partnerships, the YMCA works to ensure that individuals and families throughout Owensboro and Daviess County have opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of their financial circumstances.
About Kentucky Wesleyan College
Kentucky Wesleyan College, spiritually guided by our partnership with the United Methodist Church, integrates liberal arts foundations with professional and graduate programs to form students for lives of purpose, leadership, and professional achievement.