JANESVILLE, Wis. — The YMCA of Northern Rock County and the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville have finalized an agreement under which the YMCA will purchase the Boys & Girls Club’s section of the shared building at 200 W. Court St. The $600,000 sale advances expansion plans for both local nonprofits. The Boys & Girls Club will relocate to a new, mission-built Club at 925 S. Jackson St., anticipated to open in fall 2026. The YMCA will integrate the purchased space into its 135 & Beyond initiative, a multi-year plan to modernize facilities, expand programming and broaden access ahead of the organization’s 135th anniversary in 2027.
The two organizations have been indoor neighbors since 1999, when a joint capital campaign brought the Boys & Girls Club downtown after it outgrew its previous home. For nearly 27 years, both have served local youth and families from the building, each with its own dedicated spaces, programs and approach.
“This is a meaningful and strategic step and exactly what our 135 & Beyond plan calls for,” said Angie Bolson, president and CEO of the YMCA of Northern Rock County. “For more than a year, we have been gathering input from members and the broader community, and early conversations have revealed the need for expanded child and youth programming, wellness areas, and more accessible and inclusive spaces. We still have work to do before we finalize exactly how the space will be used, but we are absolutely certain we will need it.”
The new and larger Boys & Girls Club facility, currently under construction, will more than triple daily youth capacity from approximately 80 to more than 200, and will include dedicated youth programming spaces, a teen center, and dinner service for Club members.
“Our current downtown facility has been part of the Club’s history of growth and has had an important impact on the youth we’ve served over the years,” said Rebecca Veium, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville. “Finalizing this agreement allows the Club to focus fully on the future. For us, that means continuing construction and preparing to welcome significantly more youth and families into our new Club.”
Programs at both organizations will continue without interruption through the sale of the building and the transition that follows. The agreement’s terms allow flexibility as the Boys & Girls Club completes construction and transitions operations, while giving the YMCA time to plan for activation of its expanded footprint.
Media contacts:
Angie Bolson, president and CEO, YMCA of Northern Rock County | 608-754-9622 | abolson@ymcanrc.org
Rebecca Veium, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Janesville | 608-755-0575 | rveium@bgcjanesville.org
About YMCA of Northern Rock County: The YMCA of Northern Rock County is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community through programs that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Its 135 & Beyond initiative is shaping future facility, program and access priorities across its Janesville and Milton locations.
About Boys & Girls Club of Janesville: Boys & Girls Club of Janesville is a nonprofit providing affordable after-school and summer programs that guide youth toward academic achievement, good character and development, and healthy lifestyle choices. The new facility is anticipated to open in the fall of this year. Boys & Girls Club of Janesville is proud to be a United Way Blackhawk Region funded partner.
