Join us to strengthen our community through health & fitness, economic development, and social well-being, to make Bemidji an even more vibrant and thriving place to live.
100% of your gift will stay right here in Bemidji to build a YMCA!
Spring 2026
Cleanup, site prep and infrastructure work continues.
Summer 2026
YMCA groundbreaking and construction begins if $25M fundraising goal is met.
Winter 2027
YMCA Opens!
Star of the North
Northern Minnesota's Premier Regional Center
This new venture will positively influence personal, economic and environmental health across our entire community.
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A new YMCA built in the heart of Bemidji is just the start. Through community-wide collaboration and a vision to look broader and dream bigger than any one single opportunity, together, we can multiply our impact exponentially.
Your support to build a new YMCA will be a catalyst to create more than $65 million in new development with opportunities for retail, housing and so much more. This will be the largest community development endeavor in the history of Bemidji, an unprecedented investment for our region.
YMCA Community Center
Our goal is to build a community center in partnership with YMCA of the Northern Sky with fitness and education opportunities for all in our region, regardless of income or age.
The YMCA is dedicated to enhancing the spirit, mind, and body of all persons through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
The opportunities are endless!
The Y is more than just a gym, a pool, or a fitness center; its members are a community that fosters change and growth. The YMCA is committed to helping individuals reach their health and wellness goals. The YMCA believes in nurturing the potential for every child, improving community health and well-being and giving back and supporting its neighbors.
Year-round affordable access to health and fitness activities that may include:
- Indoor track
- Aquatics center
- Fitness center with weight room, exercise studios and education classrooms
- Indoor playground
- Drop-in childcare center for use while parents and guardians are using the YMCA
- Concessions
- Party rooms
Accessible to everyone!
At the YMCA, strengthening community is its cause. Every day, the YMCA works side-by-side with its neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. That’s why it focuses its work in three key areas that are fundamental to strengthening community: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
The Y is happy to offer financial assistance so that everyone can participate in its programs and services, regardless of their ability to pay. Assistance is available for membership, youth and adult programs, and summer camp.
Downtown Revitalization & Economic Development
You can be a part of a transformational undertaking with the power to not only change lives individually, but also the literal landscape and trajectory of our community and region.
For decades, our community has sought to create a stronger city center. By locating the health and wellness center in the heart of Bemidji, we have the opportunity to revitalize our downtown in a way no other project has been able to.
The location proposed for this project, the rail corridor, currently lies underutilized with environmental contaminants resulting from more than 100 years of industrial use. While located in an easily accessible and beautiful area, near the waterfront of Lake Irving, this area currently brings little benefit to our city.
The construction of this project will immediately change the landscape of downtown Bemidji with visually appealing buildings and green space. This investment will also serve as a catalyst for adjacent future projects including mixed use development for new housing, restaurants and shops.
When completed, this development will generate tax revenue for our city annually – all from a piece of land that currently holds minuscule value. The resulting economic boost to our area will be felt for many years to come, across the community and entire region, breathing new life and energy into downtown Bemidji.
Future outdoor community activity opportunities:
- Bemidji’s first splash pad
- Ice skating rink
- Walking trail
- Family-friendly park
- Entertainment area
“A facility like this is critical in allowing Bemidji to stand out in a very competitive marketplace and help attract and retain great employees.”
Environmental Clean Up
Transforming once-forgotten, underutilized land into a vibrant hub of health, community, and opportunity.
The high cost of cleanup has prevented the development of this key piece of property in the heart of downtown. However, this new project combining nonprofit and private development has paved the way for the land to finally be used.
As a result of multiple partnerships involved in this special project and through the support of environmental cleanup grants, we have a unique opportunity to reclaim space in the center of Bemidji, heal the land, and build a brand-new YMCA that will serve as a beacon of hope and renewal.
This project is a catalyst to clean up the downtown’s environmental contaminants from over 100 years of industrial use while providing the opportunity to create new development for a potential boutique hotel, retail, housing, mixed use space and so much more.
This isn't just about bricks and mortar—it's about breathing new life into our community, empowering our youth, supporting families and nurturing wellness for generations to come. Picture acres of once-contaminated soil turned into gardens, trails, and safe spaces—an inspiring testament to the power of restoration and resilience, while turning unused land into an enduring legacy.
We invite you to make a gift today, to make this dream of a healthier future a reality for our region.
Community Fundraising Goal
$25 Million
YMCA Financing
$10 Million
Estimated YMCA Cost
$35 Million
You have the opportunity to be a part of a lasting legacy that will impact the quality of life for generations to come.
How do I make a gift to the Building Our Future project?
You may easily make a gift through a variety of ways based on what works best for you. Take action today and change lives.