(Atlantic) The Vision Atlantic Committee announced last week that it has reached 80 percent of its fundraising goal needed to keep the Lakin Foundation’s $8.6 million grant active. This portion of the fundraising supports the planned 300-capacity childcare center and the expansion of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.
Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes says the organization has been asked how it determined which quality-of-life and recreation items should be included in the plan. He explains that the needs assessment was based on data collected from the community in 2021 through four methods. The information was drawn from four sources: the Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment, the Cass County Area Improvement Survey, the Cass County Outdoor Recreation Survey, and the Cass County COVID-19 Mobile Food for All Survey.
One of the top priorities identified in the surveys was recreational amenities, including the completed splash pad, improvements to the city pool, and expanded trails. The second-highest priorities were senior services and mental health needs.
Haynes says childcare also emerged as a significant priority, and the new 300-capacity childcare facility is expected to meet that need. Housing concerns are being addressed through the development of more than 40 acres of land donated by the city, supported by the Lakin Foundation’s $23 million investment. The final major priority identified was food, nutrition, and hunger.
Haynes adds that after the survey was completed, the community’s movie theater closed, so a new theater has been added to the expansion project’s list of needs. Haynes says the Y aims to become the go-to destination—the central hub between Omaha and Des Moines.
The following Atlantic Area Community Improvement Meeting Priorities have been identified in the YMCA expansion project.
*Splash Pad-Complete
*Senior Center
*Children’s Museum
*Teen Center
*Children’s Soft Play Space
*Pickle Space
*Community Activity Rooms
*Coffee/smoothie bar
*Indoor Pool Renovations, cycling studio, and indoor golf.
*Drop-in childcare
*Fitness Studio
*Movie Studio
The entire interview with Dan Haynes is posted below:
