Home Food News New center discussed at work session

New center discussed at work session

0

FAIRBORN — Greene Medical Foundation President Jeff Brock and YMCA of Greater Dayton Presidnet and CEO Dale Brunner paid a visit to the Fairborn City Council work session May 8 to brief Fairborn Deputy Mayor Paul Keller, Fairborn City Manager Rob Anderson and Fairborn City Council members about the proposed REACH Center.

In a collaborative effort, Clark State Community College, Central State University, Kettering Health Network, the City of Xenia, the Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center and the YMCA of Greater Dayton will open a new 72,400-square-foot facility in Xenia to address the recreational, educational, workforce, health and wellness needs in Greene County.

Groundbreaking for the Greene County Recreation, Education, Activity, Community and Health (REACH) Center is planned for late 2017.

Brock said the Kettering Health Network has donated 35 acres on South Progress Drive, near Wal-mart Supercenter, for the single-building complex. This donation of land establishes the current building costs of $13.6 million. The projected cost of the REACH Center and land construction infrastructure is $17 million.

To meet the financial needs of the project, additional revenues will be derived from a combination of partner contributions, New Market Tax Credits and Leases, the Priority Development and Advocacy Committee and charitable donations and grants.

Clark State Community College and Central State University will use 9,000 square feet of the brand new REACH Center for satellite locations that will include traditional classrooms for general education programs, workforce development classrooms and laboratories for technical programs, classrooms for training in business and industry soft skills, potential medical assisting training labs and IT technical training laboratory areas.

In partnership with Kettering Health Network, Clark State will educate workers for the growing healthcare industry in Greene County. Clark State has requested funding for the $1,591,265 joint college project through the Priority Development and Advocacy Committee.

The Kettering Health Network will provide a 17,000-square-foot regional facility at the REACH Center that will feature primary care, diagnostics, lab and rehabilitation services. The $3,821,770 project will be self-funded.

Enhanced social services and activities for seniors will be offered at the easily accessible, 10,000-square-foot Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center that will be a part of the multi-generational YMCA facility. The new $937,953 senior center will have a state-of-the-art fitness center and rehabilitation services. The new senior center will also provide daily congregate meals Monday through Friday and expanded opportunities to increase the number of home-delivery meals, which will be prepared in a larger, more efficient kitchen at the center.

The funding for the new senior center will come from New Market Tax Credits and Leases as part of a joint funding need of the YMCA and the senior center.

Brunner told the Fairborn deputy mayor, city manager and city council members that the YMCA of Greater Dayton is very excited about opening the new YMCA facility that will encompass the majority of the space at the REACH Center. The 36,400-square-foot YMCA will as provide expanded programs for both adults and children. The new facility will include a regulation size swimming pool and a warm water therapy pool, a large gymnasium, a suspended walking track above the gymnasium, a fitness center with cardio and weight training equipment, a conference room, multi-purpose classroom space, locker rooms, and a nursery and childcare area. The YMCA of Greater Dayton will obtain funding for the $6,530,680 facility from New Market Tax Credits and Leases and a project contribution of $700,000.

“We can deliver a stronger and more impactful YMCA experience for the community when we share resources and facilities with our REACH partners,” Brunner said. “By working together, we can lower our annual operating costs and expand our program reach into the community.”

Brock also pointed out that the City of Xenia has given $1 million toward the project, and the YMCA and XARC joint capital campaign will provide $2,000,000 toward the project.

According to Brock, the concept of the REACH Center grew out of a community-based planning effort in Xenia known as X-Plan and continued to develop through a comprehensive recreation needs assessment and action plan called Play Xenia. More than 500 people participated in Play Xenia and identified the need for a regional health, wellness, and recreation facility, as well as a new senior center and workforce development campus in Xenia as top priorities.

The REACH Center will retain and add up to 165 full and part-time jobs to Xenia, according to Brock. The YMCA is looking to add a full-time position and 30 part-time positions. The senior center may increase its staff from three-to-five employees within the next few years. The colleges will also be adding three-to-four full-time staff members and will provide 36 part-time adjunct faculty that will serve the REACH Center.

“Kettering Health Network is really excited to get going on this project with our partners,” Brock said. “The REACH Center will provide a much-needed resource to Greene County residents.”

By Linda Collins

Fairborn Daily Herald

Linda Collins is a freelance reporter for Greene County News.