The Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center recently welcomed U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan for a tour of its newly renovated facility, showcasing the completion of a $2.7 million transformation that has drawn attention from state and federal officials.
Hassan visited the center on Monday, according to facility records, touring classrooms and observing daily operations at what officials describe as New Hampshire’s largest licensed child care program. The visit came one month after Gov. Kelly Ayotte attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the end of a two-year renovation project.
The Merrimack facility, operated as a branch of the YMCA of Greater Nashua, serves more than 400 children and represents the YMCA’s largest single-site child care program nationwide, according to center officials. The space houses 19 classrooms and provides care for children as young as 6 weeks old.
Elizabeth Witmer, director of the Merrimack Y’s child care program, has overseen significant growth during her 20-year tenure at the facility. When she began working there, the center operated just four kindergarten classrooms, according to program records.
The building’s history reflects the evolving needs of the Merrimack community. The YMCA took over the space in 1993, converting what had previously served as an athletic club, storefront, and nightclub into a child care facility.
While the center had undergone minor renovations over the years, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted increased demand for child care services and prompted leadership to pursue a comprehensive renovation. Witmer and her team recognized the need for a facility that matched the quality of their programming.
“[The donors] felt like we had the capacity to [expand] community impact and that it would be helpful for our building to look more like the quality that we’re offering,” Witmer said last month, according to center officials. “The goal always was to find a way to get the financial support to renovate.”
The renovation project, completed primarily in December, transformed the facility’s infrastructure and layout. Workers installed permanent classroom walls to replace temporary dividers that had previously separated learning spaces. The renovation also included updating the kitchen area, which replaced remnants of the building’s former nightclub, including the original bar area.
Additional improvements included new break rooms for staff members, fresh paint throughout the facility, and new flooring in classrooms and common areas.
Community support made the extensive renovation possible, with funding coming from multiple local sources. Banks, businesses, YMCA members, and individual donors contributed to the $2.7 million project cost, according to facility records.
During her Monday visit, Hassan discussed recent federal policy developments affecting child care programs. She highlighted what she described as “quiet policy wins” achieved by congressional Democrats, including increased Head Start funding and legislation supporting child care for parents working nontraditional hours.
Hassan noted bipartisan interest in Congress for improving child care access nationwide, though she acknowledged ongoing disagreements over funding mechanisms for such initiatives.
The renovation addresses growing demand for quality child care services in the Merrimack area. The facility’s expansion from four to 19 classrooms over two decades reflects broader demographic changes and increased recognition of early childhood education’s importance.
The completed project positions the Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center to continue serving as a significant resource for working families in the region while maintaining its status as the state’s largest licensed child care program.
