U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), third from left, with members of the Board of Directors and senior staff during her tour of the newly-renovated Early Education Center at the YMCA of Greater Nashua on March 2. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

MERRIMACK – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently toured the glistening hallways and classrooms of the newly-renovated Early Education Center at the YMCA of Greater Nashua.

The $2.7 million renovation began two years ago and was completed last month. The Early Education Center now features 19 classrooms, each with its own New Hampshire-specific name such as Loon, Winnipesaukee and Monadnock. The center can also accommodate 395 children ages six weeks through five years. This makes it New Hampshire’s largest single-site childcare program and the largest YMCA childcare center in the U.S.

During the March 2 tour, Chief Operating Officer Joseph Manzoli said the current childcare center was a private health club before the YMCA purchased the building in the early-1990s. Childcare has been available at that location since 1999.

“We’ve got folks who have been with us for 20 years,” he said. “We believe we can make it a career people want to go into.”

Early Education Administrator Elizabeth Witmer said she expects employment figures will improve thanks to a $933,500 federal grant to support the Early Childhood Education curriculum at Nashua Community College.

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) speaks with Chief Operating Officer Joseph Manzoli during her tour of the newly-renovated Early Education Center at the YMCA of Greater Nashua on March 2. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

In addition, there are still 17,000 Granite Staters who stay home with their children as they cannot afford childcare.

“People have had to hold off on taking a job,” said Witmer.

In response to the childcare affordability crisis, Hassan is co-sponsoring the Child Care for Working Families Act, which would expand access to universal preschool and ensure that eligible families pay no more than seven percent of their income on childcare. The additional tuition expenses would be covered by the federal government.

Hassan also said there was a bi-partisan effort to secure federal funding for after-hours childcare.

“It doesn’t matter what your politics are, people need childcare,” she said.

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) speaks with Early Education Administrator Elizabeth Witmer during her tour of the newly-renovated Early Education Center at the YMCA of Greater Nashua on March 2. Cabinet photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

The YMCA continues to welcome families regardless of their financial situation. In fiscal year 2025, more than $940,000 was awarded through the Y CARES Financial Assistance program.