YMCA of Greater Nashua Receives Rockland Trust Grant to Support Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center Transformation and Expansion

Pictured left to right: Mike LaChance, CEO, YMCA of Greater Nashua; Peter Rayno, SVP/Commercial Regional Executive, Rockland Trust; Deborah Novotny, SVP/Commercial Loan Officer, Rockland Trust; Joe Manzoli, COO, YMCA of Greater Nashua; Alison Burns, Community Relations Director, Rockland Trust; Elizabeth Witmer, Director of Early Education, YMCA of Greater Nashua; Roree M. Warnke, Chief Development Officer, YMCA of Greater Nashua

January 15, 2026 - The Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation is proud to award the YMCA of Greater Nashua with a $10,000 grant in support of their Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center (EEC) transformation. With more than 375 students ages 6 weeks to kindergarten enrolled, and 100 full- and part-time teachers and support staff employed, the Merrimack YMCA EEC is the largest childcare center in the State of New Hampshire and the largest single-site YMCA childcare center in the nation. This grant will help fund the construction of additional classrooms, improvements to the campus's security measures, and a variety of facility enhancements for the children and staff.

"The YMCA of Greater Nashua is very grateful for the support of Rockland Trust," said Mike LaChance, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Nashua. "This contribution is helping to renovate and expand the learning environment in the Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center. As a long-time partner of our Y, Rockland Trust was able to utilize the New Hampshire Community Development Business Tax Credit program to directly invest in YMCA childcare in Southern New Hampshire and make a positive impact for local families for years to come."

"The Merrimack YMCA Early Education Center plays a critical role in supporting the region's children, families, and workforce," said Andrea Borowiecki, Vice President of Community Giving and Engagement at Rockland Trust and Executive Director of the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation. "This grant reflects our commitment to strengthening community infrastructure and ensuring that families have access to safe, high-quality childcare and early education."

Childcare is the workforce behind the workforce, and the YMCA of Greater Nashua empowers 700+ parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce as a direct result of the accessible, quality childcare that their Merrimack YMCA EEC provides. This renovation will increase the facility's capacity by at least 23 full-time equivalent childcare spots, enabling an additional 25-30 children to be served and their parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce.