Gro Dev

It takes a village to build a community health and wellness hub, and in Ottawa, the Y is built on sand that does not sink. The New Ottawa YMCA opens its doors with 67,000 square feet, serving as Ottawa’s community, and Ottawa’s living room. Through a process of rationalizing the value of existing real estate and how that asset could be transformed into a new facility, the leadership under Ottawa YMCA Executive Director Joe Capece, set about building a new Y for a new age. “We are incredibly excited about this long-awaited YMCA,” said Capece. “This is a huge milestone for the Y, as we continue our goal to positively impact as many people as possible in the communities we serve.” Such a beautiful collaboration with Legat Architects (Chicago), and the YMCA. #YMCA #NewOttawaY #Community #GroDev

Gro welcomes Jose Nunez: Thought Leading Senior Design Director Focused on “Generational Buildings” for North America's Non-Profits. With much excitement, we welcome Jose Nunez to our team as a Senior Design Director! Jose’s design aesthetic is inspired by the notion of “life-long” buildings.  As he puts it, “Working alongside my Gro colleagues to design and build ‘generational buildings’ is important, especially while implementing sustainability and adaptive re-use tactics for longevity. I would love to leave an impact when my career is over and not just have a portfolio full of projects that only lasted 5-10 years because new trends came into play.  A generational building can ultimately adapt with the evolution of (community-based) program needs over time.” Jose will be instrumental in inspiring and conceptualizing Gro’s Built Environment For Social Impact. Welcome, Jose! #Gro #Design #GenerationalBuildings #YMCA

The Built Environment for Social Impact - this time affordable housing creation… I’m reflecting upon, and remain fired-up about, what was a beautiful and stimulating opportunity to share remarks at the NY Fed on the subject of affordable housing creation by non-profits and faith-based institutions. With zoning evolving to spur the activation of latent non-profit real estate, and with capital sources continuing to emerge, faith-based orgs and non-profits, along with equally purpose-focused housing developers, find themselves at the convergence of some pretty catalytc synergies. These elements now await our will, and they await our action. Now’s the timing for collectively addressing this crisis, bringing to bear these complimentary forces, for our addressing a crisis of our time - the affordability of housing. Beyond addressing it, perhaps we lean-in to solving it - bringing to life the communities and neighborhoods we imagine and need - and now. Extending my appreciation to Otho Kerr and David Erickson for the invitation to contribute to a provocative and productive day, and likewise to the curious and productive teams of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and NYU Furman Center - let’s carry on all!

Gro welcomes Danny Forrester: Big Picture Capital Strategy for Transformational Projects! We're thrilled to announce Danny Forrester joins Gro in a new advisory role dedicated to increasing access to capital for our clients engaged in community-transforming projects. A real estate development pro (Tulane grad!), Danny understands how to approach the complex funding landscape & appreciates the need to coordinate a diverse array of tasks and specialists – minimizing costly inefficiencies and making the most of available opportunities.    As he puts it, “The purpose of this advisory service is to increase alignment between the conceptual designs we are already developing for clients and the level of financial support that those designs can and must be met with on the ground.”    Think grants, partnerships, and tax credits in conjunction with scope analyses, timelines, and org. charts – Danny's expertise unlocks new possibilities for social impact hubs like Ys. We value his collaborative spirit, working alongside fellow fundraising and government relations experts with the aim of achieving debt-free success for clients and the longevity that comes with it.    Welcome, Danny! Let's elevate funding awareness & catalyze transformative projects across the US & Canada. #gro #YMCA #nonprofitrealestate #capitalfunding 

Schluter Systems, a national YMCA supplier based in Plattsburgh (NY), just donated $250,000 to their local Y! This powerful partnership shows how Gro's Procurement Program for Building (PPB) fosters win-win-win situations: - YMCAs save money on construction and maintenance. Schluter's products and expertise helped YMCAs nationwide cut costs. - Local communities benefit. Strong YMCAs create vibrant communities, and Schluter's investment directly supports Plattsburgh families. - Suppliers build stronger relationships. By joining the PPB, Schluter deepened its connection with the Plattsburgh Y and its community. This is just one example of how Gro's PPB empowers YMCAs and non-profits: - Reduced construction costs: Gro's scale and supplier network unlock significant savings on building projects. - Streamlined operations: Consistent product specifications and expertise simplify facility management. - Local partnerships: Gro connects YMCAs with local suppliers, fostering community investment. Congratulations to Justin Ihne, the Plattsburgh Ymca, and Schluter Systems for this inspiring partnership! Every supplier in Gro’s PPB has a hometown and YMCAs serve the workforce and all families in these same communities.  All YMCAs and non-profits can join the PPB for free! Learn how Gro can help you save money, build stronger communities, and achieve your mission. Ys wishing to join the PPB can simply message or email Kathleen (Kathy) Womack #Gro #constructionprocurement #nonprofitconstruction #ymca #savesmartbuildstrong

New Year, New Y…   When ground breaks, good things spring to life. When a #YMCA development initiative is rooted in collaboration, the impact is exponential and the burden shared.    As the new year takes root, we’re buoyed by the good works and collaborative efforts of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches, as it brings to life it’s vision for a new flagship YMCA campus in partnership with Palm Beach County. It’s a vision, like most, that has been years in the making, and the partnership reads like this:  “I’m truly proud to welcome this incredible facility to West Palm Beach, and specifically, to District 3,” said Commissioner Michael Barnett during the ceremony. “Our community will greatly benefit from the numerous services and programs the YMCA expertly offers.”   With this new year comes the yield of the collarboration – a new community service and recreation campus, with a 55,000 square foot YMCA center as the hub.    Join us in congratulating CEO Timothy Coffield, CVO Tim Leuliette, and all involved. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year on this transformative project! #YMCA #LakeLytalPark #WestPalmBeach #Community #grodev

Congrats to the whole team at the Treasure Valley Y in Boise. We started working with David Duro and team well before COVID to piece together this puzzle. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Good real estate takes time.

Such a great YMCA project being supported by one of our great suppliers in our procurment program for buildings Schluter! Thanks for all you do to support the movement!

New Year, New Y…   When ground breaks, good things spring to life. When a #YMCA development initiative is rooted in collaboration, the impact is exponential and the burden shared.    As the new year takes root, we’re buoyed by the good works and collaborative efforts of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches, as it brings to life it’s vision for a new flagship YMCA campus in partnership with Palm Beach County. It’s a vision, like most, that has been years in the making, and the partnership reads like this:  “I’m truly proud to welcome this incredible facility to West Palm Beach, and specifically, to District 3,” said Commissioner Michael Barnett during the ceremony. “Our community will greatly benefit from the numerous services and programs the YMCA expertly offers.”   With this new year comes the yield of the collarboration – a new community service and recreation campus, with a 55,000 square foot YMCA center as the hub.    Join us in congratulating CEO Timothy Coffield, CVO Tim Leuliette, and all involved. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year on this transformative project! #YMCA #LakeLytalPark #WestPalmBeach #Community #grodev

The Pacific Northwest blooms with wellness as the Eugene Family YMCA's Don Stathos Campus officially opens its doors! Congratulations to Brian Steffen and the entire Eugene YMCA volunteer and staff! This state-of-the-art facility is more than just a gym – it's a vibrant ecosystem where individuals blossom and communities thrive. Recent news articles are buzzing with excitement: Eugene Register-Guard: "The Y's new Don Stathos Campus promises to be a game-changer for Eugene, offering a fitness haven for all ages and abilities, from a six-lane lap pool to a dedicated PeaceHealth Wellness Center." We at Gro Dev are proud to have been a part of the team of experts that nurtured the growth of this transformative project, which boasts: Innovative design: The Don Stathos Campus seamlessly integrates cutting-edge fitness technology with warm, welcoming spaces that cater to diverse needs. Something for everyone: From youth programs to senior fitness classes, the Y offers many activities to keep the whole community active and engaged. Sustainable solutions: Built with the environment in mind, the campus features energy-efficient technologies and eco-friendly construction practices. Join us in celebrating the blossoming of the Eugene Family YMCA's Don Stathos Campus! #GroDev #EugeneYMCA #DonStathosCampus #sustainability