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Waukesha County Technical College and YMCA of Greater Waukesha County Announce Strategic Partnership to
Open YMCA Facility on WCTC Pewaukee Campus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release

[Pewaukee, WI, Wednesday, July 17th, 2024] – Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) and the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County (YGWC) are proud to announce a strategic partnership that will bring a new full-service YMCA to the WCTC campus in the coming years. The collaboration also connects two of Waukesha County’s premier education, community health and wellness organizations.

Under this partnership, WCTC and YGWC will collaborate on developing a modern YMCA facility, which would be located on the WCTC Pewaukee campus, serving students, staff, and faculty at the college, as well as residents of Waukesha County and the surrounding areas. This new, modern YMCA facility will be running a variety of fitness, health and recreational programs along with drop-in child watch services during scheduled hours.

Bringing YGWC to Life at WCTC

To meet the goal of bringing a YMCA to the WCTC Pewaukee campus, YGWC will be launching a capital campaign with a bold $30 million goal to support this vision. The campaign will involve fundraising events, informational sessions, and community outreach to engage local businesses, residents, and stakeholders. The project planning and fundraising portion is expected to take 2 to 3 years, followed by site work and construction.

This new partnership also signifies changes for the downtown Waukesha YMCA. The existing Waukesha YMCA facility, built in 1954, is well beyond its lifespan with aged infrastructure accessibility barriers and operational inefficiencies. Coupled with growing demand for services, YGWC had to look elsewhere for expansion. As a result, the downtown Waukesha YMCA will close once the new facility at WCTC opens. The new location will be able to serve a wide range of demographics within our membership and program base.

“We are excited to join forces with WCTC on this initiative,” said Chris Becker, CEO, of YGWC. “This new YMCA facility will provide a central location for our community to gather, stay active, and engage in a wide variety of programs and services. We look forward to serving the WCTC community, the surrounding Waukesha area, and continuing our commitment to Greater Waukesha County.”

“We could not be more excited to welcome the YMCA to our campus,” said Rich Barnhouse, President of WCTC. “I see this new partnership as a wonderful opportunity to serve our campus community as well as the greater Waukesha region. Bringing the YMCA to WCTC will bring even more visitors to our campus that will showcase why the College is a hub of Waukesha County.”

Long-Range Planning

This initiative demonstrates good practice for successful long-range planning, guided by board vision and strategic future mapping. The project aims to cement the stakeholders of two strong organizations for generations to come. WCTC and YGWC bring a wealth of strengths to this partnership. Both organizations boast strong enrollment and operations, fiscal soundness, dedicated boards of directors, professional staff, and a forward-looking vision.

WCTC is a vibrant hub for Waukesha County and intends to grow further to ensure Waukesha County, and all southeastern Wisconsin recognizes WCTC as a place where our entire community can thrive. With growing enrollments, a new Applied AI Lab and programming opening this fall, and welcoming UWM on campus in 2025, adding a state-of-the-art YMCA facility to the Pewaukee campus will only further solidify WCTC as a destination location in Greater Waukesha County.

Founded in Waukesha in 1894, YGWC has been a longstanding community leader, continually adapting to meet modern needs. The central location in Waukesha County ensures easy access and allows it to serve more people with a new, modern facility. This partnership enables efficient land use and development, replacing the current Waukesha YMCA facility built in 1954. YGWC’s strengths include providing diverse programs, fostering community engagement, and promoting health and wellness for all ages.
The Village of Pewaukee is an integral part of this plan, supporting the development of this community asset. Kahler Slater Architects and VJS Construction Services have been selected to bring credibility and expertise to the project, ensuring its success from conception to completion.

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) is a leading technical college offering a wide range of academic programs and workforce training. The YMCA of Greater Waukesha County (YGWC) is dedicated to building strong communities through physical health and wellness programs, education, and outreach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the WCTC and YMCA Partnership Project:

The partnership between Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) and the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County (YGWC) aims to establish a new YMCA facility on the WCTC campus. This collaboration will provide access to state-of-the-art fitness, health, and recreational programs for both the college’s student body and the broader Waukesha County community.

This partnership aligns with WCTC’s mission to provide innovative educational opportunities and foster community engagement. By collaborating with the YMCA, WCTC aims to create a vibrant community resource on campus, promoting health and well-being for all community members.

WCTC staff and students will have access to a wide range of fitness, health, and recreational programs conveniently located on campus. The partnership also offers opportunities for educational and training purposes, as well as potential student employment opportunities within the new YMCA facility.

The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization committed to the betterment of the community, providing affordable services and financial assistance to remove barriers. The capital campaign is a fundraising initiative with a bold goal of $30 million to support the vision of the partnership and the development of the new YMCA facility. This campaign is necessary to fund the planning, construction, and operation of the facility, ensuring its success as a community asset for generations to come.

The planning and fundraising project is expected to take 2 to 3 years, followed by site work and construction.

The project team includes WCTC and YGWC leadership, as well as external partners such as Kahler Slater Architects and VJS Construction Services. These partners bring credibility and expertise to the project, ensuring its success from conception to completion.

The partnership will provide a central location for the community to gather, stay active, and engage in a wide variety of programs and services offered by the YMCA. The new facility will replace the current Waukesha YMCA, offering modern amenities and enhanced accessibility for all community members.

Both WCTC and YGWC have a long history of serving the community and promoting health and well-being. This partnership underscores their shared commitment to better serve the community by providing access to education, fitness, and recreational opportunities for all members.

The existing YMCA building, constructed in 1954, has exceeded its typical lifespan and now requires substantial capital improvements. Partnering with WCTC offers an opportunity for efficient land use and development, facilitating the replacement of the current facility with a new, modern YMCA on the WCTC campus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Existing Waukesha YMCA Services Transitioning to New Facility:

No, existing services at the Waukesha YMCA will not be disrupted during the transition to the new facility. The current facility will continue to operate as usual until the new YMCA facility on the Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) campus is completed.

There will be no changes to the programs and services offered at the existing Waukesha YMCA during the transition period. All current programs and services will remain available to members and the community until the new facility is ready for operation.

The transition to the new facility will be carefully planned and managed to minimize disruption to members. Waukesha YMCA staff will work closely with WCTC and project partners to coordinate the relocation of services and ensure a smooth transition for members.

Regular communication updates will be shared with members to keep them informed about the transition to the new facility. Information will be disseminated through email newsletters, website announcements, social media posts, and signage at the current Waukesha YMCA facility.

Yes, there will be a grand opening event to celebrate the opening of the new YMCA facility on the WCTC campus. Members and the community will be invited to attend the grand opening event to tour the facility, participate in inaugural programs, and celebrate this exciting milestone together.

CONTACT INFO

Thank you to our Project Partners