For someone fleeing violence, a family seeking shelter, or a veteran working toward stable housing, YWCA Greater Harrisburg is a place to turn when the next step may feel uncertain.
Keeping that place safe, accessible, and dependable requires investment in the building behind its services. With CREDC’s assistance, the YWCA secured a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant to support essential improvements at its headquarters at 1101 Market Street in Harrisburg.
Completed in June 2026, the approximately $2.03 million renovation included heating and cooling system improvements, roof improvements, replacement aluminum doors, and the installation of an elevator.
Together, those upgrades support the everyday needs of residents, staff, and visitors- and the YWCA’s ability to continue serving people throughout Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.
A building that supports people in crisis
The YWCA’s residential facility accommodates 113 women and children. Its broader services include support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; free civil legal representation for victims; supervised visitation; childcare; employment readiness; and housing and employment assistance for veterans.
With nearly 100 staff members and approximately 30,000 individuals reached annually, the organization depends on a facility that can support demanding, year-round use.
“If we weren’t here, where would these individuals go?” said Mary Quinn, CEO of YWCA Greater Harrisburg.
A 2022 capital needs assessment identified more than $3 million in necessary facility improvements and upgrades. Addressing those needs meant protecting the organization’s ability to provide services that people rely on, often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Reliable heating and cooling help maintain a safe, comfortable environment. The elevator supports access for people with mobility limitations and helps residents move into and out of the building safely. Roof and door improvements help maintain the facility that houses this work.
Turning a facility need into a funded project
The partnership began in 2023, when Quinn approached Melissa Stone, Vice President of Economic Development for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, to explore whether RACP could help address the YWCA’s renovation needs.
CREDC helped the organization understand the program and navigate the application process. Serving as the applicant, with the YWCA as sub-applicant, CREDC submitted the application and continues post award as the Grantee and Administrator coordinating all compliance requirements and the reimbursement process.
For the YWCA, the completed improvements support a building that must be ready to welcome people seeking shelter, assistance, and a path forward. For CREDC, the project demonstrates how connecting a community organization with capital resources can help sustain essential regional services.
Does your organization have a capital project in mind? Contact CREDC to explore available funding resources and project support.
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ABOUT THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC
For 140 years, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has served as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity. The organization combines business, community, and economic development services to enhance the region’s vitality and livability. The Chamber is a five-star accredited chamber through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce- a distinction held by fewer than 1 percent of chambers nationwide. CREDC is the region’s toolbox for economic development. It is the only Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) approved by the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development to perform economic development activities regionally using Pennsylvania’s funding programs across Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
