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YMCA unveils $18 million Hardeeville facility with child care, pool and scholarship plans
Summary
The YMCA of the Lowcountry outlined an $18 million two‑phase project off Highway 170 in Hardeeville that will add child-care classrooms (an estimated 60–70 slots), fitness and aquatic services, youth sports fields and membership scholarships; presenters said $15 million is partnered with USDA and roughly $1.5 million remains to be raised.
The YMCA of the Lowcountry told the Southern Lowcountry Regional Board it is building a two‑phase, $18 million facility in Hardeeville intended to serve Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties and to expand regional child-care capacity.
Michael Boswick, identified as CEO of the Beaufort Jasper YMCA, said the new center at the East Argent development off Highway 170 will include licensed child‑care classrooms, an accessible zero‑depth pool entry, fitness and therapy services, youth sports fields and community programming. Boswick said the YMCA expects to offer about 60–70 child‑care slots in the first phase and anticipates up to 10,000 members across its service radius.
Julie Kunes, a project presenter, said the child‑care program will be educationally focused to prepare children for kindergarten, and that the YMCA intends to provide substantial scholarship support. Boswick said the YMCA distributed about $320,000 in scholarships at its current location last year and that many families enroll on partial scholarships; scholarship levels are determined by household income and family size. "We don't want to leave anybody behind," Boswick said, describing tiered rates and scholarships.
On financing, presenters said the project’s total cost is $18,000,000 and that $15,000,000 of that amount is tied to a USDA partnership; roughly $1.5 million remains to be raised. The presenters pointed to naming opportunities for municipal or private donors and asked jurisdictions to help spread information about programs and membership. Boswick said the YMCA had received land donated by local donors and cited support from the City of Hardeeville and other local foundations.
Boswick said the YMCA hopes for a March opening (timing subject to hurricane season impacts) and asked municipalities for both financial help and communications support to reach families and seniors. He said typical monthly membership rates would be about $50 for an individual and $85 for a family, with reduced rates for seniors and military and additional scholarship availability.
The presenters described programming aimed at teens (to reduce juvenile detention risk), water‑safety curriculum tied to their pool, field sports including pickleball, and separate entry and security for the child‑care center. They also noted plans for a second phase to expand facilities on adjacent land.
The board asked about scholarship mechanics, licensing and capacity. Boswick said scholarships are awarded based on poverty‑scale guidelines and that licensing determines final classroom capacity. He repeated the request for municipal involvement and said tours of the site are available.
The board did not take a formal vote on the YMCA presentation; presenters sought feedback and support from jurisdictions and identified fundraising as the outstanding need.
