Nonprofit Acquires Uptown Fitness Facility from YWCA Minneapolis to Establish Workforce Development Hub

YWCA Minneapolis is making a significant change by selling its longtime Uptown fitness facility and pool to a nonprofit organization that plans to transform the space into a workforce development and job training hub. The 80,000-square-foot building, which has been home to YWCA programs for nearly 40 years, will be sold for $4.25 million to Tending the Soil, a coalition of nonprofits and unions led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, executive director of Unidos MN, one of the nonprofits within Tending the Soil, expressed excitement about the opportunity to bring more vibrancy to the corridor. The organizations have been planning a workforce development center for years, but the initiative gained urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sale of the Uptown facility, expected to close at the end of June, will pave the way for the transformation.

The YWCA’s decision to sell its Uptown and downtown fitness centers and pools last year shocked the community. The organization cited financial struggles and a shift in focus towards child care, racial equity, and youth programs as reasons for the closures. Despite some members urging the city or Park Board to purchase the buildings, the YWCA proceeded with the sales.

The Rise Up Center, as the renovated facility will be known, aims to create jobs in the green building and clean energy sectors. With a focus on diversity and community partnerships, the center is poised to become a national model for workforce development programs. The sale marks a new chapter for the historic building, which has served as a community asset for over a century.