Times-Journal News Editor

The plan for a new YMCA building in Selma got a big boost this week when U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) announced $500,000 in funding for the project .

“These funds will be used by the Selma YMCA to construct a new family facility for the citizens of Selma. The Selma YMCA is working to create a recreation outlet specifically to fit the needs of children and families in the Selma and Dallas County Area,” Shelby, a member of the appropriations committee, said in a press release. “Beyond the recreational benefits, the new facility will allow the YMCA to expand its service to the community with a teen

center, computer lab, community meeting room and a child development center.”

“That’s incredible,” YMCA CEO Angie Miller said. “We’re blessed.”

The announcement was included with several other projects Shelby supported in the Veterans Affairs-Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD) Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2005. The bill was approved by the Appropriations Committee today and is expected to go to the Senate for consideration soon.

The $500,000 is a large piece of the YMCA’s fund-raising goal of $3.5 million.

“This puts us over 50 percent towards that goal,” said John Calame, Co-Chair of the YMCA’s Campaign Steering Committee. “That’s excellent. We’re pleased with where we are, we are ahead of our projection at this point.”

The new YMCA building, which will be located on Medical Center Parkway roughly between Vaughan Regional Medical Center and the Co-op, will take 12-to-15 months to complete once ground is broken. Ground breaking is planned for the middle of October.

“We are now proceeding towards a ground-breaking in October,” Calame said. “Which will be a formal ground-breaking which we will celebrate with our founding donors, our board and other invited dignitaries.”

The new building is a big part of the YMCA’s plan to meet the future needs of Selma’s youth.

“We’ve explained to people what it’s going to do for the youth of Selma and Dallas County,” steering committee member Ronnie Leet said. “The concept of this new Y is going to be so much more expanded than what the current Y is able to do. It’s going to encompass

all the kids and it’s going to be able to bring all the kids of this area together.

When we explain that to people they understand that.”

Shelby was one of the ones that understood.

“Sen. Shelby heard our story,

but he didn’t hesitate a bit to understand the importance of this project to Selma/Dallas County and the Black Belt,” Leet said. “He told us before he left that he knew that it was important. He was willing to work to make this project happen and he’s certainly done that.”

“He’s been very supportive of the Black Belt and our area,” Calame said. “We want to thank Sen. Shelby for his support of our area.”

The fund raising is already more than halfway towards their goal and the YMCA has only solicited founding donors, they have not solicited donations from the general public.

“The United Way campaign is on-going right now and as a United Way Agency our general campaign will not begin until that campaign is over,” Calame said. “But we have been allowed to solicit large significant donors.”

The new building will be a $5 million, 42,000 square foot facility which will include the following features focusing on programming for youth, teens families and active older adults:

Indoor Aquatic Center, Outdoor Family Courtyard and Spray Park,

Gymnasium,

Nursery / Child Care Center,

Teen & Senior Center,

Computer Lab & Tutoring Center, Family Resource Center,

Community Meeting Room & Catering Kitchen, State-of-the-art Wellness Center,

Aerobics & Dance Studio, Family & Special Needs Locker Rooms with Steam,

and a Chapel – Named to honor Paul M. Grist

“What we’re able to offer the community in this facility is because of the tremendous response,” Miller said.

“We have been very pleased with the response,” Calame said. “It’s been somewhat amazing to us that everyone is supporting it.”

Steering committee members see the new YMCA as an important part of Selma’s future.

“It shows that Selma is progressing and it’s a unified effort among the community,” Calame said.

“It’s something that Selma can be proud.”

Leet added that the new Y can mean big things for Selma’s economic development as well.

“What it’s going to do for this communit, when you start trying to entice people to move here and to live here and to start businesses here,” Leet said, “they will see that this community has put forth an effort to make this a better community. We want families to move here.”