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2013-05-14 YMCA Pool and Lighting ProjectCity of Blair KENO Fund Grant Application Applicant Information: Name Blair Family YMCA Mailing Address PO Box 384 Blair, NE 68008 Contact Person Sandra L. Ellis, CEO/Executive Director Telephone (402) 533-9622 Email Address sellis(a�blairymca.org Type of organization 501(c)(3) organization Amount of Request $47,000 Proposal for Funding: 1. Purpose of Request. ��pprore� S l i LI h3 The Blair Family YMCA is requesting funding to enhance its ability to serve the residents of Blair. The Keno funds will be invested in assets which improve the safety, accessibility, availability and efficiency of YMCA services to the residents of our community. Safety and Accessibility The Department of Justice recently enacted the ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Designs, which added swimming pools and spas to the list of facilities covered by these rules. Under these new regulations, all covered facilities must comply, to the extent they are able, by the deadlines specified in the regulations (deadline extended to January 15, 2013.) Since the YMCA pool has more than 300 linear feet of pool wall, two means of access are required. Under the new regulations, our current zero -depth entry does not meet the letter of the law for compliance, due to a lack of a paired railing for the sloped entry. Additional research will be performed to determine the best accessibility strategy for our pool, but at least one pool lift will be required. The YMCA's spa (hot tub) is likewise covered by these expanded regulations requiring an ADA -compliant mode of entry into the spa. Accessibility modifications to the spa will likewise be necessary. Availability The Blair Family YMCA provides many valuable programs and services for people of all ages in our community. It is imperative that the YMCA have effective communication channels to the community to inform them of all of the services available to them. An important investment that will enhance communication to our citizens is a new full - featured internet website. Efficiency One of the largest annual expense categories for the Blair Family YMCA is energy, consuming nearly $125,000, or 13% of our annual operating budget. The YMCA has recently engaged an energy efficiency consultant to analyze our energy usage. Since an estimated 80% of our $88,000 annual electric bill relates to lighting, the consultant has projected that the YMCA could realize significant savings by retrofitting our metal halide fixtures with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting fixtures. The estimated cost to convert to energy efficient lighting is approximately $25,000. The consultants have estimated a net annual energy savings of $14,700 and an OPPD energy rebate of $6,800. This yields a payback period of approximately 1.25 years for the project cost. The YMCA will benefit from significantly reduced energy costs for years to come. 2. Organization's Mission and Background. The mission of the Blair Family YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for Blair and the surrounding communities, regardless of the ability to pay. The Blair Family YMCA was organized in 1994 as a response to an extensive community development study sponsored by the City of Blair and the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce that indicated an intense need for a community center and recreation facility. During our 18 years of existence, we have served not only the city of Blair, but the surrounding communities of Tekamah, Herman, Kennard, and Fort Calhoun in Nebraska and Missouri Valley, Mondamin, and Logan in Iowa. The membership of the YMCA currently includes 3,270 members, with an additional 800 non-member program participants. Beyond our membership, we touch the lives of thousands of additional community residents through our community service activities and events, senior center programs, aquatics and youth programs. Countless parents and grandparents also accompany their children to our youth sports and special events. The Blair Family YMCA offers programs and services for all ages. For the youth of our community, we provide many valuable developmental opportunities, including preschool age childcare, before- and after-school programs, summer adventure club, youth sports, swim lessons, gardening, nutrition education, and special events; all of which are designed to keep children safe, supervised, and encouraged to achieve their greatest potential. The Y also provides a wealth of programs to promote healthy living for every stage of life. These programs include fitness and yoga/Pilates classes, personal wellness training, aqua fitness classes and wellness education programs. During our 18 years of existence, the Blair Family YMCA has been listening and responding to our community's most important social needs in addition to their physical needs. Our scholarship program has provided important opportunities for youth and families to participate in valuable programs and activities at the Y. In the last two years, the Blair Family YMCA has provided an average of $37,000 of financial assistance to disadvantaged families. In addition, the Blair Family YMCA continually seeks to collaborate with other organizations in our community to reach out to those in need. In 2011, the Y helped host a Community Flood Relief Fundraiser at the Y, and YMCA passes were presented to 48 families displaced by the flood. The YMCA also serves as the Special Olympics aquatics training center, a Red Cross blood drive location and hosts the Dana College Homecoming events following the closing of the college. 3. People Served The Blair YMCA currently has 3270 members from Blair and the surrounding communities. Our Scholarship Program ensures that families of all income levels can afford memberships and program fees with reduced or free memberships and program fees based on income level. All fee-based programs of the Y are available to both members and non-members. 4. Organization Management Resources The Blair Family YMCA currently has 76 employees, composed of 4 full-time and 72 part-time staff. Officers: Sandra L. Ellis CEO/Executive Director (402) 533-9622 Neil Smith President, Board of Directors (402) 426-4181 Dwight Petersen Vice President, Board of Directors (402) 533-5179 Travis Tysdal Secretary, Board of Directors (402) 426-9500 Jason Fowler Treasurer, Board of Directors (402) 426-2111 5. Project Budget A. Pool and Spa Accessibility equipment $ 12,000 B. Website software and design costs 15,000 C. Energy-efficient lighting retrofit 25,000 Total Project Budget $ 52,000 6. Project Funding A. Keno Fund request $ 47,000 B. Other grant requests to corporate & community foundations 5,000 Total Funding Sources for Project $ 52,000 7. Timeline The funds requested will be used for expenditures during the period of April, 2013 through December 2014. 8. Funding plan for project in future years. Ongoing maintenance of the equipment will be provided through our annual operating budget.