In partnership with YMCA of the Northwoods, the City of Park Falls was awarded a $5,675,000 grant to build a YMCA in Park Falls.
According to the City of Park Falls, the grant is "part of a nearly $650 million investment allocated by the governor for community building and recovery efforts statewide, the Neighborhood Investment Fund program, which is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)."
The idea came in the spring of 2021 from Allie Plessner, a local resident, who saw the need for additional day care after seeing the loss of two day cares in Park Falls. Allie's search for needed child services in the area led her to Ryan Zietlow, the CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, located in Rhinelander. Ryan toured the community, met with the local school district, and determined Park Falls would be a good area for their services.
Michael Bablick, the mayor of Park Falls, and Allie also met with Ryan to determine where the facility would reside. According to the city, "The goal was to find a location within our City that would suit the building and office needs of an operating YMCA community building." Finding a location was proving difficult. Significant donor money was offered to the project, but due partly to high construction costs, there were not enough funds to renovate or construct what was necessary for the YMCA.
(Article continues after promotional message)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: From burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloins, Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus beef sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole. Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.
As luck would have it, the DOA announced the Neighborhood Investment Fund program. The deadline for application was December 11, 2021, so the Park Falls Common Council acted quickly. After three months, the funding was approved, and YMCA of the Northwoods will be coming to Park Falls. Services are slated to begin no later than Fall 2023.
Ryan Zietlow, CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, stated, “It was evident early on that the City of Park Falls could benefit from the transformative programs and services our YMCA would be able to provide. YMCA’s are only successful with strong community support, which we have seen. We developed an early and strong partnership with the Chequamegon School District, looking at ways to impact our youth and the challenges they face. With additional needs in child care, health, and wellness opportunities, family support, as well as impacting our senior population, there is tremendous opportunity to make a difference on the lives of the Park Falls area. We see good things happening in Park Falls and want to be a part of them. As we develop final concepts of what this YMCA will become, we will look forward to engaging with the community to ensure the facility is one that will serve all for generations to come. We anticipate wellness space and classes, youth activities and enrichment, family programming, child care, after school care, and more. We will look to serve from birth on, in a way that is much needed in our important rural communities. We thank Allie Plessner for being a catalyst for the community and for the mayor, city, and community of being supportive of this endeavor. The YMCA of the Northwoods is thankful for this opportunity to serve the Park Falls community and we look forward to being a part of what the bright future will become.”
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: With many face cords of maple and red oak on hand and ready, there is plenty of firewood for your needs at Daryl's Firewood. Visit Daryl's Firewood's website or call Daryl at 715-339-6885 or 312-968-9261 for pick-up or delivery in Price County. Follow Daryl's Firewood's Facebook page.
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(This post was last modified: 04-27-2022, 06:20 PM by My Northern Wisconsin.)
According to the City of Park Falls, the grant is "part of a nearly $650 million investment allocated by the governor for community building and recovery efforts statewide, the Neighborhood Investment Fund program, which is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)."
The idea came in the spring of 2021 from Allie Plessner, a local resident, who saw the need for additional day care after seeing the loss of two day cares in Park Falls. Allie's search for needed child services in the area led her to Ryan Zietlow, the CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, located in Rhinelander. Ryan toured the community, met with the local school district, and determined Park Falls would be a good area for their services.
Michael Bablick, the mayor of Park Falls, and Allie also met with Ryan to determine where the facility would reside. According to the city, "The goal was to find a location within our City that would suit the building and office needs of an operating YMCA community building." Finding a location was proving difficult. Significant donor money was offered to the project, but due partly to high construction costs, there were not enough funds to renovate or construct what was necessary for the YMCA.
(Article continues after promotional message)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: From burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloins, Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus beef sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole. Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.
As luck would have it, the DOA announced the Neighborhood Investment Fund program. The deadline for application was December 11, 2021, so the Park Falls Common Council acted quickly. After three months, the funding was approved, and YMCA of the Northwoods will be coming to Park Falls. Services are slated to begin no later than Fall 2023.
Ryan Zietlow, CEO of YMCA of the Northwoods, stated, “It was evident early on that the City of Park Falls could benefit from the transformative programs and services our YMCA would be able to provide. YMCA’s are only successful with strong community support, which we have seen. We developed an early and strong partnership with the Chequamegon School District, looking at ways to impact our youth and the challenges they face. With additional needs in child care, health, and wellness opportunities, family support, as well as impacting our senior population, there is tremendous opportunity to make a difference on the lives of the Park Falls area. We see good things happening in Park Falls and want to be a part of them. As we develop final concepts of what this YMCA will become, we will look forward to engaging with the community to ensure the facility is one that will serve all for generations to come. We anticipate wellness space and classes, youth activities and enrichment, family programming, child care, after school care, and more. We will look to serve from birth on, in a way that is much needed in our important rural communities. We thank Allie Plessner for being a catalyst for the community and for the mayor, city, and community of being supportive of this endeavor. The YMCA of the Northwoods is thankful for this opportunity to serve the Park Falls community and we look forward to being a part of what the bright future will become.”
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: With many face cords of maple and red oak on hand and ready, there is plenty of firewood for your needs at Daryl's Firewood. Visit Daryl's Firewood's website or call Daryl at 715-339-6885 or 312-968-9261 for pick-up or delivery in Price County. Follow Daryl's Firewood's Facebook page.
Want to see more free news stories? "Like" our Facebook page. Don't have Facebook? Register to see free news in Price County and beyond or watch our website's home page.