News
June 21, 2024YWCA NENY ELC Expansion Project
YWCA NorthEastern NY (YWCA NENY) is proud to announce the launch of their Early Learning Expansion Project, a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the critical need for accessible and affordable childcare in Schenectady County. YWCA NENY has set to permanently relocate their Washington Avenue early childhood program to 80 West Campbell Road, a vacant building that was formerly an OfficeMax, in Schenectady, NY. This ambitious $8M initiative, which is a critical precursor to the agency’s $48M Harbor House development, is anticipated to break ground in November 2024.
For five decades, YWCA NENY has been a beacon of opportunity, providing National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – accredited early childhood education for young children between the ages of six weeks and five years. With a steadfast commitment to quality and excellence, their programs have served as a cornerstone of support for families across the region.
“The Harbor House project has been in the works for over five years now,” says Kim Siciliano, YWCA NENY CEO. “We are so excited to realize our dream of getting this project underway, starting with the relocation and expansion of our Early Learning program. When a community’s basic needs of housing and childcare are met, families are more likely to succeed, and the region thrives as a result. We are ready to bring these needed services to the families of Schenectady.”
YWCA NENY is acquiring the building and collaborating with Xenolith Partners LLC and Christa Construction to plan for the interior retrofit to build classrooms, offices, and gym space. The new facility will hold 106 childcare slots, including 60 new additional slots, and increase YWCA’s early learning program capacity by approximately 78%. It will also create opportunities for economic growth by eliminating barriers to entering the labor force, contributing to regional development goals for 2024-2028.
Schenectady faces a critical shortage in quality childcare, meeting only 21% of the demand, impacting residents’ social and economic mobility. Through this initiative, YWCA NENY seeks to tackle these challenges, fostering economic growth and prosperity by investing in enhanced childcare infrastructure aligned with the Capital Region Economic Development Council’s strategic plan.
