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Bath YMCA breaks ground on Haggett Family Early Learning Center

groundbreaking COURTESY BATH YMCA Toddlers from the Y’s early learning program — outfitted with hard hats and child-sized shovels — participated in a recent groundbreaking of a future early learning center in Bath.
By Tina Fischer

The Bath Area Family YMCA has broken ground on a six-classroom early learning center, the final phase in a multi-year expansion that will bring capacity up to 200 at its Centre Street campus, when completed by fall 2026.

The new facility is being named the Haggett Family Early Learning Center in honor of the late Bill Haggett, former president of Bath Iron Works and longtime YMCA board member and past board president, and his wife Sally. The Haggetts were advocates for child care expansion in the community.

“This center will stand as a testament to Bill’s commitment, Sally’s support, and the belief we all share — that every child deserves a strong start in life, and every family deserves the peace of mind that comes with safe, affordable, high-quality care," Amy Vendt, CEO of the Bath Area Family YMCA, said at the groundbreaking last week. “Bill’s vision and tireless efforts are woven into every brick that we will lay.”

The YMCA began raising funds in 2023 for a $7.9 million capital campaign to meet the growing demand for affordable child care in the community. 

The first phase of expansion began with the construction in 2024 of two new classrooms in a standalone building, which tripled the number of available childcare spaces at its campus. 

Included in the campaign to increase availability in the region is a partnership with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works to provide childcare to their employees at a new 10-classroom center in Brunswick, opening this fall.

More than 95% of the $7.9 million has already been secured through early pledges from community members as well as from $1.4 million in federal funding secured by U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, in 2023. An additional $375,000 remains to be raised.

The Bath Area Family YMCA has operated a nationally accredited child care program for ages 18 months to five years old, for the past 20 years. The program currently operates six classrooms at the Bath YMCA campus, including public pre-k during the school year, in partnership with two local school districts.

The expansion adds the ability to offer infant care for the first time, as well.
 

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