PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County YMCA’s executive director has become the agency’s development director to shepherd the funding and construction of a new facility.
Erica Delma, 40, will oversee the project, estimated at $25 million, that is planned to be built adjacent to Mountain View Commons, 1919 Blaine St., where the Y is housed now.
She moved into the new position Oct. 1 after serving as executive director for four years.
Kyle Cronk, CEO of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, is preparing to leave Nov. 27 to take a position as president and CEO of South Sound YMCA of Olympia, which serves Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties.
The Jefferson County YMCA is a branch of the Olympic Peninsula Y, which is based in Port Angeles.
YMCA CFO Len Borchers, 68, was named to serve as acting director after Cronk’s departure and will take over some of Delma’s administrative duties, with others allocated to other staff members.
Delma said the reorganization is not tied to Cronk’s departure.
“We are moving Erica to the director of development position, focusing specifically on all of the fundraising projects that we have, to support both operations and obviously for the capital project,” Cronk said.
“I have all the confidence in her and have no doubt that this project is going to thrive under her leadership.”
Cronk said that $18 million of the projected $25 million will go to construction. The rest will be used for architectural fees and other expenses.
The project will build a 52,000-square-foot facility expected to include two pools, exercise equipment and a satellite clinic operated by Jefferson Healthcare that will concentrate on physical rehabilitation.
Delma said she hoped the facility will open by the end of 2019, adding “we are on schedule with our timeline.”
Now in progress is a fundraising feasibility study. A consultant is interviewing 25 people to determine a fundraising goal.
That in turn will govern the size and cost of the facility, for which a capital campaign will begin in 2016, Delma said.
Delma would not divulge the names of the 25 people who are “known supporters of the project who are community influencers with a philanthropic history,” she said.
The YMCA has so far raised $100,000 for the planned facility’s study phase, Delma said.
When finished, the new facility will change the face of East Jefferson County, Delma said, although not soon enough for her 9-year-old son Elliot Birkley.
“I really want to use the child’s adventure area, but by the time it’s finished I’ll be too old,” Elliot said.
Delma responded: “Then you will have to use the pool and the weight room and other things that will be there.”
Her involvement in the project has an element of paying it forward.
“I’ve been using Y programs since I was eight years old,” Delma said.
“I benefitted from these programs, and my primary driver is to be able to extend the opportunities that I had to the children of Jefferson County.”
Delma said that the YMCA will finish the project that was started under Cronk’s auspices.
“Kyle has done an incredible job of mentoring the project and putting together a phenomenal team that will move it forward,” Delma said.
“Moving to a new job is a great opportunity for him, but it doesn’t change the project’s relevance or momentum.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
