CBS 17 by Brea Hollingsworth

The Alexander YMCA on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is expanding.

YMCA staff and state and federal leaders broke ground Wednesday on the Alexander YMCA’s new youth center.

Located off of Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, the 10,000 square-foot facility will feature indoor and outdoor spaces — as well as a space for academic assistance, after-school, day camp and teen leadership programs.

“The YMCA decided to build this youth center so that we could serve more kids in after-school programs, summer camps, tutorial programs,” said Bruce Ham, CEO of the Triangle YMCA.

He told CBS 17 there was a big need to expand the space.

“We’re seeing so many folks moving to this area, so we’ve had an increased number of folks that want to be a part of the YMCA, and we have limited space, so this is going to give us the ability to expand our program significantly,” said Ham. 

This project costs $8.5 million.

It was funded through private gifts and state and federal grants including $1.5 million from the State of North Carolina’s Fiscal Recovery Reserve and another $1 million from the 2024 Government Funding Package.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross helped secure the funding.

“Our kids are struggling, it’s been very difficult since the pandemic. Our community is growing, and we need to make sure that there are healthy places for them to be, where they can play, where they can grow up and thrive,” said Rep. Ross.

The new annex is named after Pearl Alexander, Earl Jones and Willie Wright, three employees who worked at the YMCA on Hillsborough Street for more than 130 combined years.

It’s expected to be completed in late 2025.

Link to full article: https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/the-new-alexander-jones-wright-ymca-youth-center-breaks-ground-in-downtown-raleigh-this-week/