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.