General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and the Bath Area Family YMCA are partnering to expand childcare availability in the MidCoast. This effort will include the redevelopment of a property near Cooks Corner in Brunswick, with 120 spaces in the new facility set aside for the children of shipyard workers and additional availability for the broader community.
Access to childcare has become a major barrier to attracting and retaining workers for the shipyard, Maine’s largest manufacturer. Through this partnership, over three phases, a total of 150 childcare slots will be made available to the children of BIW employees; most will be at the new facility in Brunswick and a total of 30 additional slots will ultimately be located in the YMCA’s Bath facilities.
“Our current and future shipbuilders need access to quality childcare that meets their work schedules,” said BIW President Charles F. Krugh. “Working with the Navy and our congressional delegation to address this critical need will support the nation’s defense and help Maine workers embark on meaningful and rewarding careers. Without our investment, this additional childcare capacity would have been much more difficult to achieve.”
The Bath Area Family YMCA, a leader in providing children in our community with safe, nurturing, and enriching care, will operate the facility.
“Childcare programs like ours are a critical component of our state’s infrastructure to support working parents and our economy,” said Rob Gray, CEO of the Bath Area Family YMCA. “We’re grateful for Bath Iron Works’ investment in our Y and for enabling us to expand our capacity to offer quality childcare in the community.”
The new childcare facility will be located at 6 Farley Road in Brunswick, formerly a medical facility operated by Martin’s Point Healthcare. BIW and the YMCA appreciate the support from Martin’s Point in ensuring this facility was available for redevelopment.
The existing building will be renovated to create 10 up-to-date classrooms customized for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Spaces will initially be filled with eligible dependents of shipyard workers. Those not used by children of BIW employees will be made available to the community on a first-come, first-served basis. Creating additional childcare capacity should also reduce pressure on existing facilities, which routinely have to turn families away because of inadequate space, leading to long waiting lists.
The U.S. Navy has identified bolstering the nation’s shipbuilding industrial base as a national defense priority and the 2023 Defense Appropriations bill includes funding for this project and others aimed at helping to attract and retain the defense industry workforce.
More information about General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), can be found at www.gdbiw.com.
More information about the Bath Area Family YMCA, including how to apply for childcare, can be found at bathymca.org/enrichment.