• The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South and Ford celebrate the groundbreaking of the new YMCA Child Development Center at BlueOval City, which will provide childcare for employees and local residents

• The YMCA Child Development Center at BlueOval City is designed to help remove barriers to employment for local residents, providing care for as many as 175 young children, along with care for school-age children during school breaks

• Ford collaborated with the YMCA to gather input from residents, shape the development of the facility and bring together key investors for this project

• Public and private funding for construction and ongoing operation of the YMCA center totals $8 million so far, with significant support from the Tennessee Department of Human Services and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development

STANTON, Tenn., Nov. 4, 2025 – The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South today broke ground on the new YMCA Child Development Center at BlueOval City in Stanton, Tennessee.

The groundbreaking ceremony signals the start of construction for the childcare center, which is on track to open in 2026. The project is designed to help remove barriers to employment for local residents.

“The YMCA is committed to strengthening community by empowering young people, improving the health and well-being of people of all ages and inspiring action in and across communities,” said Brian McLaughlin, president and CEO, YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. “We look forward to expanding access and helping to meet the needs of families throughout West Tennessee.”

The YMCA Child Development Center at BlueOval City will serve as a childcare hub for the entire region – providing care for as many as 175 children, aged 6 weeks to 5 years old. The facility also plans to provide before- and afterschool care programs and meals to school-age children. The new YMCA center will accommodate employees by offering operating hours tailored to their work schedules.

The site of the state-of-the-art center is conveniently located off Highway 222, less than a mile from BlueOval City. Spanning 15,500 square feet, it will feature dedicated childcare rooms and a multipurpose room for activities.

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“As construction begins, we’re focused on developing meaningful programming tailored to the youth in West Tennessee,” said Dave Bratcher, senior vice president of West Tennessee for the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. “Achieving an undertaking of this scale is possible only through the strength of our collaborations and shared commitment. Grounded in the YMCA’s mission to foster youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, we cultivate meaningful collaborations that empower young people to thrive and help communities grow stronger together.”

Ford worked with the YMCA to gather input from residents, shape the development of the facility and bring together key investors for this project.

“Successful workforce development depends in part on access to high-quality affordable childcare,” said Ermal Faulkner, Ford site director for BlueOval City and electric vehicle sites. “Representatives from Ford spent months listening to local families and we worked with the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South to design a childcare center that will help improve quality of life for employees, Tennessee College of Applied Technology students and other community members.”

The 5-acre site for the new YMCA Child Development Center at BlueOval City was generously donated by the Wall family, expanding the legacy of support for the YMCA that dates back three generations to John Farley.

Public and private funding support for construction and ongoing operation of the YMCA center totals $8 million so far.

• $2 million for construction support funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services
• $1.7 million for the multipurpose gymnasium funded by the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development through a Connected Community Facilities grant
• $1 million to offset the cost of childcare for Ford’s Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center employees and cover the cost of water and wastewater depreciation expenses funded by Ford’s Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at BlueOval City
• $1 million for onsite programming funded by BlueOval SK
• $1 million for construction support funded by Universal Logistics Holdings
• $500,000 for capital expenses from Ford Community Relations as part of the Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee
• $500,000 for programming for the YMCA’s expanded food distribution sites across the region from Ford Philanthropy
• $300,000 for construction support funded by Ford Manufacturing