YMCA Building New Daycare Center

For years, parents across White County have faced the same difficult balancing act — finding dependable childcare that matches the realities of modern work schedules. For some, that means scrambling to find someone who can watch children before a 7 a.m. shift begins. For others, it means racing across town before a daycare closes at 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.

The Sparta-White County YMCA believes it has found a way to help fill that gap.

The organization has announced plans to open a new licensed childcare center after purchasing property at 387 W. Turntable Dr. in Sparta. By purchasing the property rather than leasing it, YMCA leaders say the organization has established a permanent home for the program while also creating a more cost-effective, long-term investment. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin soon and will be funded through a State of Tennessee grant.

The center will operate separately from the YMCA's main location while remaining under YMCA oversight. Current plans call for a full-day childcare program serving children from 6 months old through school age, with tentative operating hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The decision to pursue the project grew out of the Sparta-White County YMCA's 2023 strategic planning process, which included a community stakeholder forum and interviews with local leaders to identify the county's greatest needs.

"Child care was prominent in these discussions and rose to the top as a priority," YMCA CEO Kyle Goff said. "This passes our strategy screen and aligns with our mission of standing in the gap of the community's greatest needs."

After identifying childcare as a community priority, Goff said the YMCA began looking for ways to make the project a reality. An earlier funding opportunity in 2023 was not feasible because of the lack of a suitable facility and a limited application timeline, but a subsequent grant through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development provided another opportunity.

"I viewed this as an opportunity we could not pass up," Goff said.

The new center will have the capacity to serve up to 99 children across eight classrooms designed for specific age groups, including infants, toddlers, preschool and pre-kindergarten students. Two classrooms will serve children ages 2 to 3, while two additional classrooms will be dedicated to children ages 3 to 5. Each classroom will follow an age-appropriate curriculum designed to support children's developmental and educational milestones.

Families who qualify will also be able to participate in the Tennessee Department of Human Services Child Care Certificate Program, helping make childcare more affordable for eligible households.

Plans for the facility include a fenced outdoor playground and a staffing model designed to maintain consistent supervision. Each of the eight classrooms will have one full-time lead teacher and two part-time teachers assigned to it, with two employees present in every classroom at all times. The YMCA also plans to employ floating part-time staff to assist throughout the facility as needed.

"Nationwide, staffing is an issue in child care. This will be an ongoing concern, Goff said that they recognize that staffing could be one of the biggest hurdles. "We will work to be competitive in the market with compensation and hire professionals who are passionate about the work."

He emphasized that all teachers will be required to meet state certification and training requirements before working with children.

Construction is currently projected to be completed in late winter or early spring. YMCA officials said additional details, including registration information, tuition rates and enrollment timelines, will be announced as the project moves closer to opening.