Newton YMCA awarded $2.79M in federal funding for renovation project

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks couldn’t get off the plane from Washington, D.C. fast enough and tell leaders at Newton YMCA the good news. The president signed into law three different appropriations bills, one of which included about $2.79 million in Community Project Funding for the local YMCA’s renovations.

“I was going to call them on Wednesday night, but the president signed things a little later,” Miller-Meeks told Newton News. “So when I was flying back I said, ‘Well, it’s very close to Des Moines Airport … I can just go there directly and let them know the news.’ It was great to be able to have some good news.”

Community Project Funding allows certain federal dollars to be directed toward entities serving in a state’s congressional district. Representatives in Congress could submit up to fifteen eligible projects. Miller-Meeks said the funding for the YMCA and two other projects were included in the agriculture appropriations bill.

No matching dollars are required. Miller-Meeks said recipients of Community Project Funding typically have a finite amount of time to spend the money. The expansion at the YMCA has been in the works for a number of years, and its purpose is to improve recreational opportunities, teen programs and child care.

“Given the need for child care within the communities this was a great resource allocation of federal government money,” Miller-Meeks said. “We are very pleased with this project and it’s certainly within our priorities of economic growth and maintaining rural Iowa communities.”

Funding for large-scale projects often goes to the more populated urban centers, Miller-Meeks added, but supporting rural communities is also very important and is a priority for lawmakers. When evaluating the YMCA project, Miller-Meeks said there is clearly a need for child care. That alone makes it a good investment.

“This helps to meet a need for the community … It helps to meet an employer’s need. It meets the needs of families who are wanting to work and are having challenges or difficulties in placement of their children,” Miller-Meeks said. “It really meets all the priorities and things we’re looking for.”

Newton YMCA CEO George Sorensen said this kind of funding can have a strong and positive impact on the community.

“For us to be able to provide a community center with child care resources, with youth and teen activities, the ability to reach more kids and families is really our goal,” Sorensen said. “These dollars will allow us to really look at the future and … they allow us to really think what a true capital campaign will look like.”