Ford and YMCA Team Up for Childcare Center at BlueOval City

Ford and the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South are breaking new ground in workforce development with the announcement of the YMCA Early Learning Center at BlueOval City. Scheduled to open in 2026, this facility is set to become a critical resource for families in the region, addressing one of the most pressing barriers to employment: access to quality, affordable childcare.

The YMCA Early Learning Center at BlueOval City will offer childcare for up to 175 children from six weeks to five years old. Beyond this, the center will also provide before- and after-school care programs and meals for school-age children. Designed with employee needs in mind, the facility will feature operating hours tailored to the work schedules of local workers, students from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and community members. Ford’s BlueOval City site director, Ermal Faulkner, emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “We spent months listening and learning from local families as we designed a childcare center that will help improve the quality of life for employees.”

Conveniently located off Highway 222 and just a mile from BlueOval City, the state-of-the-art facility will span 15,500 square feet, featuring dedicated childcare rooms and a multipurpose room for community activities. Dave Bratcher, YMCA’s senior vice president for West Tennessee, noted, “BlueOval City sits in an area where access to childcare has been especially challenging following the pandemic.” This center represents a significant step in meeting the post-pandemic childcare needs of the community.

A generous 5-acre land donation from Beth Wall Flanagan, whose family has stewarded the land since the 1830s, helped make this initiative a reality. Public and private funding for the $7 million project came from multiple partners, including $2 million from the Tennessee Department of Human Services and $1.7 million from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. Contributions also came from Ford’s Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, BlueOval SK, Universal Logistics Holdings, and Ford Manufacturing.

These contributions reflect a collaborative commitment to creating a space that not only provides essential childcare but also strengthens families and communities. Jerry Martin, president and CEO of the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, summed up the impact: “The YMCA is committed to increasing access to healthy lifestyles, resulting in stronger families and communities.”

By prioritizing the needs of working parents and community members, the YMCA Early Learning Center at BlueOval City exemplifies how partnerships can drive meaningful change. Michael Adams, CEO of BlueOval SK, added, “We recognize affordable, quality childcare is a barrier for many working parents, and BlueOval SK is committed to being part of the solution.”

With the YMCA and Ford’s joint efforts, this initiative marks a milestone in community-driven solutions that pave the way for economic growth and a better quality of life for families in West Tennessee.

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