YMCA of the Blue Water Area

What YMCA of the Blue Water Area does

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community wellness organization founded in 1877 and operated as an affiliate of YMCA of the USA, serving Port Huron and St. Clair County, Michigan. The organization operates a 62,000 sq. ft. Duffy Wellness Center on the St. Clair River waterfront in downtown Port Huron, which includes a 3,600 sq. ft. 25-yard competition pool, a 3,200 sq. ft. recreation pool, oversized gymnasium, weight and fitness areas, group exercise studios, multi-purpose rooms, Child Watch/Kid Zone, and 24/7 member access to the wellness floor. Beyond the main facility, the YMCA delivers school-based out-of-school-time programs across three districts (Port Huron Schools, Marysville Schools, Landmark Academy) and a community food program distributed through seven sites including a rural Yale pickup, serving approximately 700 weekday meals in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and the Michigan Department of Education.

The core commercial offering is a tiered membership program (Adult, Adult Senior, Household, Household-Senior, Young Adult, Youth) with annual billing, a Capital Improvement Fee, income-based financial assistance, and inclusion in the nationwide AWAY reciprocity network. Revenue is diversified across membership subscriptions, swim lessons and aquatic programs (Blue Water Otters swim team, lifeguard certification), Camp Wanacombak and day/holiday camps, Warm World Preschool (licensed childcare, ages 6 weeks to 5 years), chronic disease prevention programs (Diabetes Prevention Program, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA), physician-referral programs (Prescribe the Y, VetStrong), personal training, sports leagues, group exercise, facility rentals, and day passes. Technology consists of Daxko operations software for membership management, scheduling, and program registration - a standard off-the-shelf platform with no disclosed proprietary or AI-enabled components.

The go-to-market is hybrid: direct membership sales through an on-site Welcome Center, phone sales, and Daxko-powered online self-serve enrollment, augmented by healthcare-provider referrals (Prescribe the Y, VetStrong, Diabetes Prevention), corporate wellness partnerships, school-district channel relationships, community events, and the volunteer-led Togetherhood civic engagement program. Customer segments span children/youth and families (a primary segment), working-age adults (26-61), older adults (62+), food-insecure children and families, healthcare-referred patients, and partner employers. The organization is led by President & CEO Josh Chapman with a board chaired by Stephanie Lomasney and professional staff including Senior Directors of Business Operations, Food Programs, School Age Programs, Pool Operations, and Youth Activities.

Name

YMCA of the Blue Water Area

Legal name

The Young Men's Christian Association of the Blue Water Area

Website

https://bluewaterymca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community wellness organization operating a 62,000 sq. ft. facility in Port Huron, Michigan, serving St. Clair County with memberships, fitness, aquatics, licensed childcare, chronic disease prevention, and food security programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Fitness & Wellness Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Centers & Swimming Facilities (MPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Community fitness center
• Youth development programs
• Licensed childcare services
• Swim lessons and aquatics
• Chronic disease prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Huron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual and monthly membership fees for individuals and households (Adult, Adult Senior, Household, Household-Senior, Household-Single Adult, Young Adult, Youth tiers). Membership includes access to all participating YMCAs nationwide via the AWAY program.
2. Program Fees: Fees charged for group exercise classes (free for members, $25/session for non-members), swim lessons, youth sports, summer camp (Camp Wanacombak), day camps, holiday camps, and specialty programs. Revenue is session-based and one-time per program cycle.
3. Food Program: Community food distribution programs including summer feeding, after-school nutrition support, and pop-up pantries. Funded through partnerships with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Michigan Department of Education. Primarily a cost-center serving the community, not a revenue-generating activity.
4. Facility Rentals: Party and event venue rentals. Member pricing: $180 (2-hour) / $233 (3-hour) / $53-$125 per hour for multi-purpose rooms. Non-member pricing: $265 (2-hour) / $326 (3-hour) / $75-$145 per hour for multi-purpose rooms.
5. Personal Training: Private and semi-private personal training sessions. Member rates: $34 (1/2 hr), $58 (1 hr), with package discounts. Non-member rates slightly higher. Also includes small group Fit in 30 classes.
6. Day Passes: $10 per person day pass for community members and guests who are not members. Three free guest visits per year for members. Short-term week-to-week or month-to-month memberships available at higher rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area delivers community-based fitness, aquatics, childcare, and youth development services from a 62,000 sq. ft. facility in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. Its core commercial offering is tiered annual/monthly membership (Adult, Senior, Household, Young Adult, Youth) that grants access to fitness equipment, group exercise, pools, and nationwide YMCA reciprocal access via the AWAY program. Beyond membership, it sells swim lessons, personal training, summer and day camps, preschool, before/after-school care, chronic disease prevention programs, facility rentals, and community food distribution.

Product overview

The YMCA of the Blue Water Area operates as a multi-service nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of programs and facilities focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The core offering is the membership program, which provides access to the 62,000 sq. ft. Duffy Wellness Center featuring fitness equipment, pools, gymnasium, and group exercise studios. Additional programs include adult fitness offerings (group exercise, personal training, sports & recreation, water exercise), chronic disease prevention (Diabetes Prevention Program, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA), aquatic programs (swim lessons, open swim, swim team, lifeguard certification), childcare services (Warm World Preschool, Out-of-School Time, Day Camps, Camp Wanacombak), and community outreach (Food Program, Back to the Basics cooking show, Togetherhood volunteer program). Membership tiers include Adult, Senior, Household, Young Adult, and Youth categories, with add-on services like Child Watch/Kid Zone, Prescribe the 'Y', VetStrong military program, and Financial Assistance. Programs operate from the riverfront facility in Port Huron, MI, with outreach services throughout the Blue Water Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YMCA Membership Program
• Child Watch / Kid Zone
• Prescribe the 'Y'
• VetStrong
• Group Exercise Classes
• Sports & Recreation
• Personal Training
• Diabetes Prevention Program
• LIVESTRONG at the YMCA
• Swim Lessons & Water Safety
• Open Swim
• Blue Water Otters Swim Team
• Lifeguard Certification
• Camp Wanacombak
• Out-of-School Time
• Day Camps (Holiday & Snow Day)
• Warm World Preschool
• Facility Rentals
• Food Program
• Togetherhood Volunteer Program
• Financial Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% reduction in new cases of type 2 diabetes through the Diabetes Prevention Program; 71% reduction among adults age 60+ (based on NIH/CDC research)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• PraesidiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPraesidium is the national leader in organizational abuse risk management. The YMCA of the Blue Water Area works in partnership with Praesidium for child safety protocols, staff training, and achieved Praesidium Accreditation in 2024. The partnership includes a Certified Praesidium Guardian on staff and implementation of the Praesidium Safety Equation.
• Food Bank of Eastern MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide consistent, reliable food access through summer feeding programs, after-school nutritional support, and community pop-up pantries. The YMCA operates 365 days a year combining local Y reach with the Food Bank's robust distribution network.
• Michigan Department of Education (MDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe YMCA's food program works closely with MDE to ensure all meals meet state and federal nutrition standards, providing high-quality, compliant nutrition to children under the program.
• Yale Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural Non-Congregate summer meals program partnership. The YMCA brings free summer meals directly to Yale, MI through weekly pickup at Yale Junior High School, serving children 18 and under.
• National Institutes of Health / Centers for Disease Control and PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diabetes Prevention Program is based on research funded by NIH and CDC. The program is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program led by the CDC and has been shown to reduce new cases of type 2 diabetes by 58%.
• LIVE*STRONG FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2008, the YMCA partnered with the LIVE*STRONG Foundation to help cancer survivors begin the journey toward recovery. The program offers a free, 12-week exercise and support program for cancer survivors twice weekly.
• Lake Huron Medical CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting YMCA mission, programs and services. One of multiple healthcare providers in the community partner network.
• McLaren Port Huron HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting YMCA mission, programs and services. One of multiple healthcare providers in the community partner network.
• Physician HealthCare NetworkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider partner referring patients to YMCA wellness programs including Diabetes Prevention and other chronic disease prevention programming.
• United Way of St. Clair CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting YMCA programs and services through collaborative funding and community resource coordination.
• Community Foundation of St. Clair CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner supporting YMCA mission through grant funding and community investment.
• St. Clair County Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the YMCA food program that reaches adult students alongside the children served. Collaborates on addressing food insecurity in the college community.
• Port Huron SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple schools serving as sites for YMCA out-of-school-time programs (Cleveland, Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Crull, Garfield, Edison, Keewahdin, Michigamme, Indian Woods). Also summer meals site at Woodrow Wilson Elementary.
• Marysville SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for out-of-school-time programs at Gardens Elementary, Morton Elementary, and Washington Elementary. YMCA operates before and after-school care at these sites.
• Blue Water Area ChurchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity faith-based partner network supporting YMCA mission and social responsibility programs.
• Blue Water Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner network supporting local business engagement with YMCA programs and services.
• St. Clair County RESAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner, including hosting the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) for free preschool opportunities for eligible 4-year-olds.
• St. Clair County Sheriff DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting YMCA programs and community safety initiatives.
• St. Clair County Intervention CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in the St. Clair County network of human services organizations.
• Viking FitnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering YMCA members add-on gym access to Viking Fitness 24-hour facilities in Marysville, St. Clair, and Marine City for $10 per person per month.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Anytime Fitness: Large 24/7 franchise fitness network competing for the same household-membership dollar as the YMCA, particularly relevant given the YMCA's Sunday closure and limited after-hours access at non-member sites.
• Planet Fitness: Low-cost national fitness chain putting sustained pricing pressure on value-tier gym memberships — directly relevant competitive threat given the YMCA's value/mission-driven positioning.
• Gold's Gym: Established national fitness brand offering membership, group exercise, and personal training — competes for the same household and adult-fitness segments as the YMCA.
• Crunch Fitness: National fitness chain offering memberships plus group exercise and personal training at value-tier pricing — overlaps with the YMCA's adult programming and competes on price-convenience.
• Life Time Fitness: National premium fitness operator offering memberships, group exercise, personal training, aquatics, and family programming — overlaps significantly with the YMCA's wellness offering but as a for-profit, premium-priced incumbent.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit youth development organization providing afterschool programming, summer camps, and community services with a comparable mission-driven, dues-based, partner-funded model targeting youth and families.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit: Another Michigan branch of the YMCA of the USA network operating multiple membership-based fitness, childcare, and aquatic facilities under the same national mission framework — directly comparable membership, program, and AWAY structure.
• YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids: Michigan-based YMCA branch offering similar membership tiers, childcare, aquatics, and chronic-disease prevention programming through multiple facilities — directly comparable scale and program mix to the Blue Water Area branch.
• JCC Association of North America: Network of Jewish Community Centers operating membership-based fitness, aquatics, childcare, and cultural programming — directly comparable community-center model with mission-driven positioning and multi-generational program suites.

Regional players

• Snap Fitness: Mid-size 24/7 franchise fitness network with strong secondary-market presence — comparable to the YMCA in targeting smaller metro and suburban Michigan-area households.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ymcabluewater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCf6TajIYUfYfgLwMFb5snjA
• Facebookfacebook.com/YMCABlueWater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ymca-of-the-blue-water-area

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YMCA of the Blue Water Area