Hollister
– After months of fundraising, the YMCA of San Benito County
plans to have funding secured and a design in hand for a new Y
facility by early spring.
Hollister – After months of fundraising, the YMCA of San Benito County plans to have funding secured and a design in hand for a new Y facility by early spring.
“Once we have the plans designed, everything will be much easier,” Executive Director Lou Bettencourt said. “We’ll have a better idea of what everything is going to cost exactly and what we need to do.”
While moving forward with the land acquisition, the Y’s governing board has an additional task to work on: finding a successor for Bettencourt, who will be retiring in the spring.
“This was supposed to be a three- to five-year job, and I’ve been here for seven years,” he said. “Everything with my family just fell into place and this is the right time.”
Bettencourt said the board will begin its search for a new executive director in earnest next month, and is hoping Hollister’s proximity to Santa Clara County will help draw many qualified applicants.
“The thing is, if you bring in someone from the community it takes them about a year to acclimate to the YMCA, and if you bring in someone from the YMCA it will take them about a year to acclimate to the community, so we’re not limiting ourselves either way,” Bettencourt said. “But this could be a really wonderful career opportunity for someone who wants to come here and raise a family.”
In June, the Hollister School District voted unanimously to sell 7.5 acres of surplus land adjacent to Ladd Lane School to the Y as the future home of an 85,000-square-foot, $12.8 million facility.
The center is expected to include basketball and racquetball courts, at least two swimming pools, fitness equipment, sauna and steam rooms, and other spaces designed to appeal to both children and adults.
The facilities would also be available to community organizations in need of space, such as the probation department or church youth groups.
The land alone is valued at $1.05 million; when the HSD board voted to offer the YMCA the land, trustees agreed to give the Y up to three years to come up with the money. Bettencourt, however, said the Y plans to have the land secured by April. At that point, volunteers will launch a more public capital campaign.
“We’re just grateful to the volunteers who have helped us get this far,” he said.
Those who work with Bettencourt say he was instrumental to bringing the Y to San Benito County and ensuring its future success.
“He’s a real inspiration to me and got me involved with the youth in the community,” said Will Sutton, who sits on the Y’s governing board. “It’s because of his connections in the community that the YMCA has been successful.”
Whoever takes the reins of the Y should have an excellent business sense and a willingness to become a part of the community, Bettencourt added.
“That’s one of the most important things we’ve been able to do,” he said. “We really are the YMCA of San Benito County, and not just the YMCA in San Benito County.”
In the meantime, Bettencourt said he plans to focus his efforts on finding new candidates and moving the YMCA closer to officially acquiring the Ladd Lane land.
“Thinking about moving forward is one thing, and leaving is another,” he said. “Because this is the best job I’ve ever had.”
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
