Over the past decade, Gloucester, which has a rich history as a hardworking New England community, has sustained significant job losses due to the declining fishing industry, a historic driver of the local economy. As a result, the community has a significant population of low-to-moderate income households, and a growing need for local services and community facilities, including facilities promoting health and recreation.

The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For over 150 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been strengthening the foundations of the community for the more than 45,000 members it serves in 25 cities and towns. TDCDC’s $15 million NMTC investment helped the YMCA remediate a blighted 10-acre parcel of property, formerly the site of the Fuller School of Gloucester. The site is in a prominent location in Gloucester, but was vacant, and a federally-designated Brownfield site. The redevelopment of this site, and construction of a YMCA community facility, is an economic catalyst for the entire community of Gloucester.

The new, 64,000 sq. ft. Cape Ann YMCA provides access to health, wellness, and early childhood development resources to the low-income community at a free or reduced-cost basis. Previously, the Cape Ann YMCA provided free or reduced-cost services to 2,400 low-income individuals and families. Because of this NMTC project, the expanded facility serves approximately 5,600 low-income individuals and families. An estimated135 construction jobs were created during the construction phase of this project, and 409 full-time equivalent permanent jobs were created.