The YWCA Wheeling, which has not seen a major upgrade since its initial construction, is poised to make a transformative impact on the program participants, organization employees, and the local community with this renovation.

Construction efforts generated an estimated 67 positions, 85% of which were accessible to those facing barriers to entering the workforce. The renovated facility will enable the YWCA to add 7 new positions in addition to its current staff of 33.

Additionally, the building has new and upgraded systems, including a new elevator which will replace the one that has been in use since 1969, updated lighting and plumbing for better energy efficiency, and a brand new HVAC system. The renovation of the programmatic, residential, and shelter spaces provides an estimated 20% increased capacity by adding 14 rooms that are even more comfortable and inviting for program participants and will enable the YWCA to support an additional 1,200 people each year.

The Cambridge community is once again benefiting from jobs created from within The Packing House. The extensive construction and preservation efforts generated 110 construction jobs, and as the tenant businesses grow in their new spaces, they’ll create and retain a projected 161 permanent jobs. 100% of the construction and permanent positions will be quality, well-paying jobs targeting and supporting the community.

The tenants of the building are dedicated to giving back to the community through various programming and support. The Maryland DHCD operates a Community Engagement Center within the Packing House to host training and certification programs for residents, including holistic health, continuing education in the medical field, farming certifications, and landscaping certifications.

MERGE is focusing on career growth support by operating one of Cambridge, Maryland’s few incubation hubs and shared office space, with a focus on education.

The new collaborative space will support an estimated 50 entrepreneurs each year. Several active MERGE members, such as the Dorchester Foundation, are community-oriented and operate youth employment programs targeting low-income families.

Food entrepreneurs will also benefit from the new space, with Four Eleven Kitchen offering classes, support, and training in its food concept spaces. Four times a year, it will offer six—to eight-week programs for six young chefs (24 annually). The Four Eleven Kitchen will also offer an additional 10–20 food concept production platforms for others looking to try their hand in the kitchen.

All of this and more will take place in the newly renovated Packing House. This historic, 60,000-square-foot industrial warehouse has been awarded LEED Gold certification for meeting high standards in energy efficiency, water conservation, and material reuse. It is projected that the restored Packing House will conserve 148.9 MWh of electricity each year, equivalent to the amount of energy used when burning 120,000 lbs. of coal.

The development of the Webster Community Center will collocate a dozen service and development providers and increase access to quality food, primary medical care, and job training for nearly 12,000 people each year, with an estimated 160,000 unique annual visits.

The HeadStart program will provide 360 low-income children with quality pre-k care, and the various afterschool programs will support more than 1,000 children each year. The business incubator estimates 32 program participants annually, over half of which will be Minority Business Enterprises (MBE). Once operational, the FQHC is estimated to support nearly 7,000 low-income people and families each year.

The relocation of Pitt’s operations to the New Granada site will anchor the project in community service and expand employment opportunities for local residents. The Hill Community Engagement Center already provides a wide range of educational, professional, and health‑related programs, and its move will strengthen its role as a hub for learning and support. Its offerings span mentoring for younger students, college‑readiness initiatives, engineering exposure programs, and hands‑on STEAM activities, all designed to broaden access to academic pathways and future careers.

The center also delivers extensive professional development resources, from administrative training and career sessions to small‑business support and data‑skills instruction. It will continue to host volunteer initiatives that connect students and faculty with neighborhood organizations, fostering deeper community partnerships. The project will additionally house spaces for arts, social work, jazz studies, and digital literacy, ensuring that the new site becomes a multidisciplinary resource for residents of all ages.

The Benn High redevelopment is expected to create 22 workforce housing units with five units at or below 80% AMI and all other units at 80-120% AMI. The Sponsor estimates there will be 27 new permanent full-time jobs created, and 35 full-time jobs retained, 85% of which will be high-quality jobs at a living wage and 75% of which will be accessible to people without a bachelor’s degree. Commercial tenants were chosen to maximize access to broad community benefits, including childcare, recreation, education, and senior services. A new childcare center will offer many seats for local families, with a majority reserved for those with lower incomes.

The YMCA will greatly expand community access to recreation and youth programs. The Sponsor estimates 4,308 individuals currently benefiting from the recreational center programming, with a projected 1,940 new users. The University of Vermont Extension estimates that more than 1,000 individuals in the community will benefit from their offerings, which include agricultural, nutrition, and community development resources.  Senior programming will also grow, offering wellness, cultural, and social activities for both current and new participants.

By co-locating the various programs CARITAS supports, the organization has saved over $350,000 on an annual basis, which allowed it to further develop new and existing services. The project also allowed CARITAS to expand their Healing Place program to include services specifically dedicated to supporting women in need. The furniture bank supports nearly 1,000 families each year by providing those transitioning to permanent housing with low/no-cost furniture. Through the CARITAS Shelter program, the revitalized space added 40 sober living units and seven transition units for program graduates and community members. By incorporating

housing into the new facility, CARITAS no longer had to carry an $86k/year expense for the nine apartments and two houses that it used to lease to male alumni and transitional clients. 

CARITAS’ new location allowed for 26 new permanent full-time positions, with 14 of those created as a direct result of the expansion into the space. Approximately 70% of the newly created jobs were accessible to LIPs or residents of LICs. All new job opportunities for the Women’s Healing Place program were made available to members of the surrounding community.