The YMCA is gearing up to start a public campaign for the aquatic facility

By Kyle Schmidt

The Young Men’s Christian Association of St. Joseph currently sits with $13 million to go towards a public aquatic facility, the organization needs roughly $15 million for the facility to be built.

The initial end of year deadline has been extended until the end of April, and the YMCA are preparing for a public campaign to start the new year.

“That way we can involve the public, educate them a little bit more on what this whole project is about,” Chief Executive Officer for the St. Joseph YMCA Tammy Killin said. “It’s an Area Community Aquatic Center. Helping people understand that it will be treated as a public entity.”

The public will not have to be members of the YMCA to be a part of it. Several donors have helped get the project to its current standing. Some of the donors include the government for the City of St. Joseph, the government of Buchanan County and Mosaic Life Care.

“It was nice to get a phone call just a day before going to council with an update of the three large donors… Then we had another one come aboard right after that meeting with the significant donation saying we want to be a part of this project,” Killin said. “We love that because it really isn’t about the Y, it’s about the community. It’s about providing an opportunity for everyone with this facility.”

Killin said the YMCA is still working on the drawings to help with the budget and make it as affordable as possible. With an estimated $2 million left to get, Killin is optimistic the goal will be reached.

“We are now at $13 million secured which I think is phenomenal,” Killin said. “We’ve been able to do that in such a short amount of time, seven months.”