Mission and vision work in tandem for YWCA of Grand Island to create a major impact in the community. The organization has diligently expanded upon their mission to empower women and strengthen communities by emphasizing policy and advocacy efforts into their work in recent years. In particular, lack of access to quality childcare has been a driving concern.
Executive Director Amy Bennett outlines three major trends that contribute to the issue: high costs, lack of access, and caps on space related to staffing needs. The for-profit model, in particular, doesn’t work for most families. Exorbitant costs get passed on to families, leading to tough choices needing to be made on employment, quality of care, and the decision to have fewer children or spacing out children. Families are left scrambling and asking themselves, what can we afford?
Childcare may seem like an isolated issue at first glance, but it is deeply intertwined with a community’s ability to thrive. Amy shares that the issue must be reimagined as a core economic and development issue. This has lasting ripple effects that contribute to the loss of state income tax and results in families being able to spend less.
During the 2026 Nebraska Legislative Session, their policy efforts have been heard loud and clear. A regular leader in legislative workspaces hosted by Nebraska Table, Coalition for a Strong Nebraska, and Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, and working in close collaboration with other nonprofits such as Kids Can Community Center and First Five Nebraska, YWCA of Grand Island sets the tone for what can be possible for childcare in our state. LB304, introduced by Senator DeBoer, sought to permanently increase childcare subsidies from 130% of the federal poverty level to 185%, ensuring that more working families would be able to afford quality care and stay in the workforce. YWCA of Grand Island has been a fierce advocate for LB304, coordinating grassroots efforts to get community voices at the forefront of the discussion, show the full breadth of the issue including business perspectives, and meeting directly with legislative offices.
On March 26th, 2026, the Nebraska Legislature advanced the state budget without any language that would have made that increase permanent. However, on March 30th, 2026, LB304 advanced 39-8 to the next round of debate.
The organization currently serves the community with three childcare program sites, able to serve approximately 175 children. In 2021, a partnership with the Grand Island Public Schools system resulted in embedding the YWCA of Grand Island into preschool-age programs, allowing a holistic approach to address lack of access. As the YWCA of Grand Island looks ahead to the future, exciting plans are on the horizon. Beyond offering regular childcare at their facilities, the organization has heeded the call for support and introduced new options for Grand Island residents seeking childcare that is affordable, safe, and accessible. A newly proposed daycare center renovates a former elementary school in order to serve over 300 children. Another effort remodels modular buildings in order to increase school-age capacity from 30 to 75 children.
In anticipation of the 2026 Primary and General Elections, the organization is committed to Get-Out-The-Vote work in coalition with Nebraska Table and other community groups to ensure that all Nebraskans can make their voices heard.
The YWCA of Grand Island is reimagining what economic development, health, and safety can look like for our communities and empowering entire families to make their voices heard. Whether it’s at the Capitol, at the ballot box, or in accessing essential everyday services, the organization is helping Nebraskans shape their own futures to build a stronger state.