The Owensboro Family YMCA is expanding its early childhood services by launching a new full-day Infant and Toddler Child Care program, offering care for children as young as 6 weeks old.
The program begins September 2 at the YMCA’s main campus, and care will be available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. For more information about registering your child, call 270-926-9622.
YMCA CEO Tom Bontrager said the expansion is part of a broader effort to address the region’s child care shortage and provide more options for working families. The program is being offered in partnership with the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro.
“We know access to child care is critical for working families, and we are thrilled to be able to open infant and toddler care, with preschool coming in January,” Bontrager said. “This service has been supported by our governments, foundations, and donors and will provide a nurturing, engaging environment where little ones can learn, grow, and thrive.”
The new facility is located on the YMCA’s second floor, where staff have spent weeks preparing classrooms with fresh paint, new flooring, and brand-new equipment such as cribs, desks, and shelving. Bontrager said community partnerships and support ensured the project was completed without going into debt.
The program is designed with transition in mind: infants will begin in one classroom until they can walk, then move to a middle room before aging into a third toddler space. A room across the hall will eventually house pre-K and kindergarten programs.
Bontrager noted the expansion is only the first step, with a preschool program scheduled to open in a building across the street in January 2026.
“This is phase one,” he said. “Phase two will be in January with additional slots — about 150 more — and that’s a big deal. We couldn’t have done it without the city, the county, the state, and the child care licensure board, who were with us every step of the way.”
A ribbon-cutting for the program was held on Wednesday, with local and state leaders saying the project reflects the community’s ability to come together and solve pressing issues.
“This project is truly one of those that encapsulates the spirit of Owensboro,” said Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candance Castlen Brake. “Give us an issue, tell us others aren’t making it work, and we are going to get together and we’re going to figure it out. … This really does encapsulate what you can accomplish when nobody is worried about who gets the credit.”
State Rep. DJ Johnson called the opening “absolutely exciting,” saying it marks “a momentous day for Daviess County and for this entire region, as we open this child care center and serve the community.”
Judge/Executive Charlie Castlen said the need for more child care options has been clear for families across the county, including his own.
“My daughter has three children, and they used to go to (Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church daycare). They got a letter a couple of months ago that said, ‘We’re closing our doors.’ She called daycare after daycare, and all they had was waiting lists,” Castlen said. “Two of my three grandkids will be going here as soon as you open your doors. What you’ve done inside is incredible.”
Owensboro Mayor Pro Tem Bob Glenn shared a personal memory of seeing a young mother struggle to complete her education due to a lack of child care, saying efforts like the YMCA’s expansion help ensure families don’t have to make similar sacrifices.
“People don’t have to make those exchanges today because of the great work of the YMCA,” Glenn said. “You are going to be part of the village that raises the next generation, and we couldn’t be prouder of you.”
Joe Berry, President and CEO of the Public Life Foundation, said the initiative represents a model partnership among government, business, and philanthropy.
“On the surface, you may not think this is an issue that impacts businesses, but it does. It is a workforce development issue,” Berry said. “If we can find solutions like this in this community, we’re going to help create opportunities for the workforce of the 21st century.”
By Ryan Richardson The Owensboro Times