YMCA of Greater Nashua Celebrates Expansion of Merrimack Early Education Center
The YMCA of Greater Nashua marked the completion of a major renovation and expansion of its Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center (EEC) on Wednesday, Feb. 4th with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Governor Kelly Ayotte and multiple state and local leaders.
The project expands the Early Education Center to 19 classrooms, serving approximately 395 children from six weeks through kindergarten – making it the largest single-site childcare program in New Hampshire and the largest YMCA childcare center in the nation. Yet while the expansion added 23 new full-time equivalent childcare slots, the center continues to maintain a waitlist of more than 130 children, underscoring the ongoing shortage of affordable, high-quality childcare. In fact, the state of New Hampshire faces a significant childcare gap, with an annual shortage of more than 9,100 childcare slots statewide and an average of 17,300 workers sidelined each month due to a lack of childcare options.
Investing in the future of our community and workforce
“This is about more than square footage. It is about access, opportunity, and supporting families when they need it most,” said Mike LaChance, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Nashua. “Nearly 90 percent of a child’s brain development happens before age five. By investing in early education, we are investing in the future of our community and workforce.” The renovation focused on enhancing both the child and staff experience. Improvements included a brighter and more welcoming main corridor connecting classrooms, renovations to all existing classrooms, enhanced security features, new staff restrooms, and three dedicated staff break and quiet areas designed to support teacher recruitment and retention.
“This transformation reflects what happens when mission, community support, and smart investment come together,” said Joe Manzoli, Chief Operating Officer and incoming CEO of the YMCA of Greater Nashua. “Our goal is to ensure that our facilities reflect the quality of care, curriculum, and people who make this center so special.”
Consistent with the YMCA’s commitment to access and equity, no family is turned away due to an inability to pay. Through their Y CARES Financial Assistance program, more than $940,000 was awarded in FY2025, with nearly 1 in 4 children receiving financial assistance.
A Little More to Go: A Matching Gift Opportunity for Early Education
The ceremony also recognized the many partners who helped make the $2.7 million expansion and renovation possible, including the Eastern Bank Foundation, individual donors, and local businesses. The YMCA of Greater Nashua also received $625,000 in Business Tax Credits through New Hampshire’s Community Development Finance Authority, with 16 local businesses purchasing the majority of the available credits.
In addition, an anonymous foundation awarded a $100,000 challenge grant to help complete the remaining project funding. More than $68,000 has already been raised toward the match, with just over $30,000 remaining. Funds raised through the challenge grant will be matched dollar for dollar through March 1, providing a critical opportunity to fully fund this investment in early education and childcare. Will you be the one to put us over the top? To learn more about this opportunity, just visit https://nmymcaeec.funraise.org/
Governor Kelly Ayotte praised the project as a critical investment in New Hampshire’s families and workforce. “We need more affordable childcare options for working families in our state, and I’m proud to see the YMCA expand their facility today to serve more children and their parents,” said Governor Ayotte. “I am grateful to everyone who made this expansion possible and proud to support efforts that keep New Hampshire the best place to live, work, and raise a family. We will continue to work with our nonprofits, businesses, and community partners across the state to expand access to high-quality, affordable childcare for families.”
The expansion of the Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center represents a significant milestone for the YMCA of Greater Nashua, while also highlighting the continued need for investment and collaboration to meet New Hampshire’s growing childcare demands.
For media inquiries or additional information, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications, Tim McMahon.