Putnam CEO: Crossville Expansion Would Benefit All

Putnam County YMCA CEO Mandy Perhay said a new YMCA-run recreation center in Crossville would provide benefits to both regions.

The Putnam Y considering a partnership with the city of Crossville to fund, build, and operate a recreation center. She said that having both centers managed by the same team would allow for a lot of cost-saving and shared services between them.

“The thought of bringing, you know, the services that the Y can offer to a new community is extremely exciting,” Perhay said. “We would love to expand our learn to swim program into Cumberland County, as well as our cancer recovery programs, and then just membership in general, to – to give everyone the experience of the Y is what we would love to do.”

Perhay said there are many people who commute between the two counties who would be better served by another facility in Crossville. Perhay said the expansion would also help the YMCA’s college-aged staff creating more openings for full-time positions.

She said she does not foresee any negative impact on the Putnam YMCA from the expansion, only benefits.

“That’s just going to benefit both of our, both of these centers into growing and to serving more and more individuals, and give us the means to actually take some of the services we do at the Y outside of our walls, and that’s always exciting,” Perhay said.

Perhay said they became involved in the plan for the center when the Crossville City Council approached the YMCA and asked if they would be interested in running it.

“Just excited to continue the great work we’re doing here in Putnam County and move that a little further into the Upper Cumberland,” Perhay said.