Empire State Development Announces Opening of The JAY Wellness Center in Jamestown
SUNY JCC and YMCA Wellness Center to Offer a Diverse Array of Activities, Programs and Services to Address Social Drivers of Health in the Greater Jamestown Area
Project was Awarded $3 Million in State Funds by Governor Hochul through the WNY Regional Economic Development Council
Empire State Development today announced the opening of The JAY Wellness Center, a collaborative $48 million project that integrates community wellness, advanced athletics, and youth development into a unified hub on the SUNY Jamestown Community College Jamestown Campus. The Jamestown Area YMCA and JCC named the building by combining the identity of the YMCA and the college’s Jayhawk mascot. To support the project, Governor Kathy Hochul provided $3 million in state funding through the Western New York Regional Council Pro-Housing Community Fund.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is making historic investments that transform regional economies and elevate the quality of life for local families,” said Hope Knight, President, CEO, and Commissioner of Empire State Development. “The JAY represents a visionary approach to community infrastructure, blending education, childcare, and wellness into a dynamic hub on the JCC campus. By modernizing athletic assets, creating an early learning center, and expanding workforce wellness, this project drives significant economic benefits to Chautauqua County. It will act as a catalyst for talent retention, job creation, and long-term vitality in Jamestown.”
With the completion of Phase One renovations to the existing JCC Physical Education Complex, YMCA’s membership-based downtown wellness operations have successfully been shifted to the campus athletic facilities. This initial integration ensures that area residents continue to have uninterrupted access to premium cardio, strength-training, aquatic, and indoor track spaces while the partners move ahead with the next steps of full-scale development.
Future phases of the project will include:
- New Health and Wellness Center: Encompasses approximately 58,000 square feet of new construction for expanded YMCA services.
- New Early Learning Center: JCC was recently awarded a $2.89 million state grant by Governor Hochul to establish a state-of-the-art childcare facility on campus. Scheduled to open in September 2027, the center will feature infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, along with secure outdoor playgrounds to serve more than 100 children in partnership with the YMCA.
- Athletic Field Overhauls: Structural upgrades are progressing to transform current campus grounds into premium turf fields with custom overlays for varsity and community baseball and softball.
Leaders from both organizations emphasize that this partnership strengthens community access to wellness resources while fostering a sustainable model for the future.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "SUNY's campuses provide our students with an affordable, excellent education while also serving local communities with access to essential resources and programs. This partnership between Jamestown Community College and the Jamestown Area YMCA, supported by Governor Kathy Hochul, serves as an example of how organizations and campuses can work together to benefit every part of their communities. Congratulations to the Jamestown community for the opening of the JAY Wellness Center."
Jamestown Area YMCA interim CEO John Barber said, “The launch of the new JCC YMCA Branch at The JAY Wellness Center is an important first step in a partnership that has the potential to reshape how our organizations serve this community. This collaboration creates new opportunities for the YMCA to advance our areas of focus — youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — while connecting people of all ages more closely with the resources of the JCC campus. This first phase is just the beginning of what we believe The JAY can become: a community hub where the YMCA’s mission and the resources of JCC come together to strengthen our community for generations to come.”
Western New York REDC Co-Chairs Eric Reich and Steve Stoute said, “The completion of Phase One of The JAY marks a monumental milestone for Chautauqua County and the entire Western New York region. By investing $3 million in state funds into this collaborative hub, Governor Hochul is directly addressing the social drivers of health while driving regional economic growth. This unified campus not only expands access to top-tier wellness resources, but it also creates crucial childcare and educational frameworks that empower our local workforce. This project stands as a premier example of how regional partnerships can build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.”
While development moves to the campus, the historic downtown YMCA facility on East Fourth Street remains open and active. It continues to host vital community initiatives, including the Teen Center, youth camps, and community basketball leagues.
For more information, project updates, and updates on the early learning center, visit the Jamestown Area YMCA website or SUNY JCC News and Notes.
Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. “PJ” Wendel Jr. said, “Today’s opening of The JAY Wellness Center is a tremendous milestone for Jamestown and Chautauqua County. This project brings together two outstanding community partners, SUNY Jamestown Community College and the Jamestown Area YMCA, with a shared vision for creating greater opportunities for health, wellness, education and youth development. Investments like this strengthen our community, support our families and help make Chautauqua County a place where people want to live, work and raise a family. I want to congratulate everyone who helped bring this first phase to completion, and I look forward to seeing the continued transformation of this campus in the years ahead.”
About SUNY Jamestown Community College
SUNY Jamestown Community College is a comprehensive regional community college within the State University of New York system, dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality educational, cultural, and athletic opportunities.
About Jamestown Area YMCA
The Jamestown Area YMCA has served the youth and families of Chautauqua County for generations, providing programs focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
Contact:
Pamm Lent (ESD) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (800) 260-7313
Laura Magee (ESD) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313
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