Work begins on new Muncie YMCA
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Officials broke ground this week on a new, $33 million YMCA of Muncie building on the campus of Muncie Central High School. The organization also said it has surpassed the initial goal of the capital campaign of the project, but more funds are needed.
The YMCA announced plans for the project in April as it launched the public phase of its $28.5 million capital campaign.
When complete, the 73,000-square-foot building will include an aquatics center for use by both the YMCA and Muncie Central, as well as clinic and educational space for Indiana University Health, Open Door Health Services, and Ball State University’s Health Lifestyle Center.
The organization said it has raised $29,635,140 in its capital campaign, well above the original $28.5 million goal. However, increased costs and interest rates have driven the project up the overall cost of the project.
With that, the YMCA is looking to raise more than $1.3 million to complete the necessary funding. Muncie-based First Merchants Bank is continuing its 1:1 match for the campaign up to $1 million.
The building will consolidate the organization’s Northwest and Downtown locations. YMCA of Muncie CEO Chad Zaucha told Inside INdiana Business in April that consolidation has been much needed.
“We have really too much house to take care of,” Zaucha said. “We have three membership branches that are basically serving the same market with the same program mix. We really couldn’t continue to do what we were doing and reinvest in the facilities and equipment and deliver programs that our constituents have come to expect.”
Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete.
