Jefferson County Development Authority presents childcare study and YMCA capital proposal

Darryl Holmes, executive director of the Jefferson County Development Authority, presented updated childcare data and a potential YMCA capital project to the Charles Town City Council.

Holmes said the countywide wait time for licensed childcare exceeds 13 months, with 142 families on waitlists among 17 responding facilities and an average of 13 children per facility on wait lists. He said the shortage is a workforce and economic development issue for the county and highlighted Shepherd University as a potential site for a YMCA renovation.

A flyer passed out during the presentation described a YMCA capital campaign to renovate a state‑owned building on the Shepherd campus for roughly $950,000 to provide high‑quality early learning space for up to 124 children. Holmes said the YMCA’s contact on the campaign is Tom Klingman and asked the council to consider partnership roles beyond funding, including promoting the project and coordinating local zoning and site support.

Council members asked about income eligibility and whether subsidized care (Mountain Park program) would be accepted; Holmes said those details would be part of future discussions with the YMCA and that state childcare subsidy programs exist to serve low‑income families. Questions also covered staffing ratios (state‑mandated ratios such as 4:1 for infants) and the likely employment impact (dozens of staff.)

Council members suggested the Development Authority and YMCA coordinate with local zoning and municipal incentives to identify appropriate sites and noted existing city taxcode and zoning tools the city has used to encourage daycare locations near neighborhoods.

No formal funding request was presented to the council during the meeting; Holmes asked the council to consider partnership options and to share the YMCA flyer and QR code to support initial outreach.