SOUTH REGION
$20.7 Million Total Project
$17 Million FCLF Federal NMTC Allocation
64,263 sq-ft of new construction
Community facility to provide services to low-income households, including education and job training
Estimated reach nearly 4,000 annually
112 Temporary and 115 new and retained Permanent jobs estimated
"The vision for the LA Lee YMCA is to impact generations of youth, adults, and families. With FCLF's commitment and guidance, the LA Lee YMCA will change lives." – Sheryl Woods, President & CEO, YMCA of South Florida
The YMCA of South Florida has served Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties since establishment in 1915. Today the YMCA provides programs in over 118 area public schools, offers after-school food programs for children, civic education for teens, and health and wellness programs serving area residents of all ages, infants to seniors.
The original LA Lee YMCA was in an aging building that had seen increasing repair and maintenance expense with no ability to expand in order to meet the community’s growing needs.
With NMTC financing, the YMCA of South Florida built a new 64,000 sq-ft LA Lee YMCA / Mizell Community Center, which replaced the aging facility and provides much needed expanded space for education and job training, health and wellness programs, social services, recreation, a swimming pool, and commercial retail space to local area small businesses.
The new LA Lee / Mizell Center will be open daily on a year-round basis and is estimated to serve 800-1200 area residents per day from predominantly low-income households. GED and job training programs provided by Broward College will serve an estimated 475 per year and include job placement. Community health programs including diabetes prevention will reach 1300 residents per year.Programs including mentoring, tutoring, and on-site daycare will also be expanded to reach up to 700 mostly low-income children from 170 households.
The area has been identified by the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in neighborhood revitalization efforts. The City provided a long-term 50 year lease on the land. The CRA is also providing a $10 million toward construction funding and is helping identify tenants for on-site rental retail space.
Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF) provided $17 million in federal NMTCs for the YMCA of South Florida, with an additional $4 million NMTC from Banco Popular. The investor and source loan provider is SunTrust Bank. This transaction was completed in September 2019. The new facility opened in May 2022.
"With its strong focus on education and job training from its partner tenant Broward College, this is a unique YMCA facility, and a great example of the impact the NMTC program can have. FCLF is proud to be a part of this project, and we stand with the community in its support. From infants to seniors, from daycare to job training, the LA Lee YMCA / Mizell Community Center will reach every facet of the community.” – Nelson Black, FCLF Chief Lending Officer
Community Profile:
- 45% Poverty Rate
- Income 36% of AMI (area median income)
- 35% Unemployment Rate – 4.2x National Average
- Brownfield, SBA HUB Zone, FEMA-Designated Disaster Area, Food Desert, CRA District
Pictured below, the old LA Lee YMCA building that was replaced using financing through FCLF and the NMTC Program.
