The Greater Rochester YMCA Carlson Child Care Center to close in August

The Greater Rochester YMCA has announced the closure of the Carlson Child Care Center at the MetroCenter building.

The YMCA cited the lack of long-term, committed partners to share the space as the reason for the decision. The building on E. Main Street will be listed for sale. The YMCA is working with families and the Child Care Center to find alternative care options for those in need.

The YMCA acknowledged that this closure impacts the families served by the Carlson Child Care Center. The center will continue operations through the summer, with the official closing date of August 30.

Here is the statement from the YMCA of Greater Rochester:

“In 2021, we established Task Force recommendations, which included determining the future of the MetroCenter building. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to find long-term, committed partners to share this space for positive community impact. Therefore, with input from dedicated volunteers, we have made the decision to list the building.

We know this decision impacts the families we serve through child care. We will continue operations through the summer, with our final day of service at MetroCenter on August 30. We are working with our families directly and in partnership with the Child Care Council to assist in finding care for those who will still need it.

We continue to work directly with those we serve to learn what they need most from the Y and how we can best meet those needs. In the City of Rochester, that includes combating food insecurity with congregate meals, offering free programming for teens, and providing exercise and socialization for our seniors. We will continue to explore future service opportunities through purposeful partnerships that expand upon our mission just as we have since the Task Force recommendations were shared.”

Genae Shields is the business & development impact reporter. Reach out at gshields@gannett.com or on Instagram:@genaebriphoto for questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your continued support!