Y pool on last fundraising push, hopefully

WASHINGTON — Representatives from the Washington County YMCA say they’re on the home stretch of fundraising efforts for an indoor pool project scheduled to break ground this summer, but need an eleventh-hour boost to quality for a grant that would secure the money in time.

In a news release, the Y said it was turned away from the Enhance Iowa Board at the group’s last meeting, April 6 due to a lack of cash, but that grant-writing decision-makers asked them to return in May after filling as much of the gap as possible. The project is $1.5 million from being fully funded, according to Washington County Y CEO Amy Schulte.

“With Enhance Iowa, their goal is to be the last money into a project, so they want projects to secure all of your local funding,” she said. “They sent us back and said the gap (we) have right now is a little bigger than what they want to see, so they want us to come back having raised some more money before the May meeting … our goal is to raise as much as we can and demonstrate the overwhelming community support for the project.”

The Y had initially asked Enhance Iowa for $1 million, a number Schulte said they were unlikely to spend on a single project. The nonprofit hopes to return in May with the much lower request of $250,000.

The Y has faced a moving finish line in fundraising efforts for the aquatic facility. While initial estimates put the price at around $6 million in 2018, changing economic conditions since then have brought the expected price up to $8.5 million.

Schulte said a lot was on the line, as the Y races to gather cash before construction can begin. While she said they Y Board might consider taking out a loan to pay for the project, that remains an option of last resort for the nonprofit.

Failure to meet the goal in time may delay construction, according to Schulte.

“Our biggest concern is that we may loose the opportunity for this investment from Enhance Iowa if we cannot raise a significant amount of money before their May meeting,” she said in a written statement. “We have come so far to bring this important project to Washington and we are not giving up, but we do need the community help us show just how much this project is supported in Washington County.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com