The City of South Bend knows it has a need for more daycare. So does the YMCA of Greater Michiana. That's why the two organizations have agreed on a 10,000-square-foot facility on the first floor of the downtown South Bend YMCA.
The space is already being designed, and construction is scheduled to start in spring. Parents can start enrolling students late this year, with doors opening in January 2027 if the project goes as planned.
The need for daycare was pointed out by enFocus, a nonprofit that supports innovation and entrepreneurship, in a 2024 needs analysis. The numbers showed that St. Joseph County had only 60% of the daycare seats necessary to support working parents. Cost of the seats available were 11 to 16% of annual income per household, leaving many parents without a viable option to stay in the workforce.
“Access to reliable childcare is critical to working families and a strong local economy,” said Mayor James Mueller in a press release. “The YMCA is a trusted partner who will help to improve South Bend’s workforce and quality of life with this new facility.”
The YMCA already is one of the largest providers of early childhood programs and is a licensed childcare provider in southwest Michigan and north central Indiana.
“We’re grateful for the City of South Bend’s leadership and partnership,” said Denise Peters, chief operations officer of the YMCA of Greater Michiana. “This support moves a much-needed project forward and reflects a shared commitment to supporting families, employers and the broader community.”
The YMCA of Michiana began operations in South Bend in 1882, and opened its first building in 1908. The nonprofit merged with several other YMCAs to become the YMCA of Greater Michiana in 2020.
