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YMCA Early Learning Center At BlueOval City To Enhance Childcare Access For Local Residents
The YMCA Early Learning Center at BlueOval City aims to ease employment barriers for locals by offering childcare for up to 175 young children. Ford and the YMCA collaborated with residents to shape the facility's development and secure key investors. The Wall family generously donated five acres, enhancing their legacy of supporting the YMCA's mission.
Public and private funding for the center's construction and operation has reached $7 million. Significant contributions come from the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. This funding ensures that the center can provide essential services to the community.
The center will open in 2026, serving as a childcare hub for children aged six weeks to five years. It will also offer before- and after-school care programs, along with meals for school-age children. The facility is designed to accommodate employees' schedules, making it easier for them to balance work and family life.
Located off Highway 222, less than a mile from BlueOval City, the 15,500-square-foot center will feature dedicated childcare rooms and a multipurpose room for activities. "Access to high-quality affordable childcare is one of the most important components in workforce development," said Ermal Faulkner, Ford site director for BlueOval City.
Dave Bratcher, senior vice president of West Tennessee for the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, noted that access to childcare has been challenging in this area post-pandemic. Jerry Martin, president and CEO of YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, expressed gratitude for expanding access to meet families' needs throughout West Tennessee.
Collaboration and Vision
Ford worked closely with the YMCA to gather input from local residents, shaping the facility's development while bringing together key investors. Beth Wall Flanagan donated land that has been part of her family's farm since the early 1830s. "The Wall family is proud to help advance the mission of the YMCA," she said.
The funding includes $2 million from the Tennessee Department of Human Services for construction support and $1.7 million from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development through a Connected Community Facilities grant for a multipurpose gymnasium.
Corporate Contributions
Ford's Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center contributed $1 million to offset childcare costs for its employees and cover water and wastewater depreciation expenses. BlueOval SK provided $1 million for onsite programming, while Universal Logistics Holdings funded $1 million for construction support.
"We recognize affordable, quality childcare is a barrier for many working parents," said BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams. "We’re proud to support the YMCA and its programs that help meet families' needs throughout West Tennessee through various services."
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