November 10, 2025
The Fairmont Area Community Center Foundation (FACC) has made the difficult decision to discontinue efforts to build a YMCA-operated community center. After more than a decade of effort, project delays and escalating costs have rendered the project unaffordable.
FACC, its predecessors and countless volunteers have dedicated the past ten years to working on bringing a community center to our area. This work included gathering community input, developing a design that met community needs, and planning efforts to ensure the facility would be cost effective to operate and affordable to build. The proposed center would have included an aquatics area, a multi-purpose gym and recreational space, dedicated community rooms, and programming to support youth, families, and seniors – creating a hub for life-long health, wellness, and community vitality.
In 2019, the Fairmont City Council approved the proposed YMCA-operated community center with a total project cost of $19.9 million. At that time, the Council committed $14 million in sales tax funds, contingent on FACC raising $6 million in donations and the YMCA being hired to operate the facility. Since that time, FACC has exceeded those expectations – raising over $8 million in pledges and donations – and securing the YMCA’s commitment to operate the community center.
Over the past six years, numerous delays and factors beyond FACC’s control caused construction costs to rise with inflation to approximately $30 million. These delays were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, dysfunction and inconsistency with city leadership, frivolous litigation brought against the city and most recently a government shutdown stalling decisions on a federal funding source. Despite extensive efforts to re-design the facility, cut costs, and identify new funding sources, FACC has reached the disheartening conclusion that construction of the YMCA is no longer feasible. Accordingly, FACC will discontinue its efforts on the project.
While the outcome is not what FACC hoped for, the Board is extremely proud of the dedication by so many in the community to bring a YMCA to Fairmont.
The YMCA’s mission – “Guided by our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, the Y is dedicated to giving people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity” – was what inspired countless individuals, families, and businesses to give generously of their time and resources.
The FACC Foundation Board extends its gratitude to every donor, volunteer, and partner whose support made this effort possible. While too numerous to name individually, every contribution was meaningful. The cause we all pursued was absolutely worth the effort.
