Organizers of The Bay announced a fundraising campaign Friday to equip a new 40,000-square-foot facility in Omaha.
The nonprofit serves youth ages 4-24 in Omaha and Lincoln, and is launching a new hub currently under construction at 6120 Military Ave. in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood.
A press release stated the facility is set to open in the second quarter of 2027. Through a public-private partnership involving the state of Nebraska, Douglas County, the city of Omaha, and Omaha’s philanthropic community, a long-vacant building is being transformed into a third space where young people can spend their time after school, in the evenings and on weekends – discovering interests, building skills, finding community and preparing for the future.
Omaha’s newly approved 2027 budget includes $25,000 for youth programming at The Bay, signaling the City’s confidence in The Bay and its work with Omaha young people.
“It is absolutely imperative that the entire community finds ways to invest in our young people,” Omaha Mayor John Ewing said in the press release. “I like to remind our city that our youth and young adults aren’t our future; they’re our right now! This cool, unique third space will not only serve as an additional place to participate in programming and hang out, it will also directly save lives.”
The new public campaign aims to give the entire community an opportunity to help fill that building with the tools and equipment that will make those experiences possible.
“Omaha has already stepped up in an incredible way to make this building possible. Now we’re asking the entire community to help us bring it to life,” The Bay’s executive director Andrew Norman said in the release. “Every contribution helps put a real tool into a young person’s hands, something they can use to create, learn, build confidence and begin imagining what their future could look like.”
Campaign contributions will support equipment across The Bay Omaha’s programs and spaces, including computers, cameras and filmmaking equipment, music and recording technology, fashion and design tools, esports equipment, skateboarding gear, and other technology and creative resources. Specialized equipment will provide access for people with physical disabilities.
Contribution levels range from $30 to $750.
Since 2022, approximately 3,000 young people have participated in programs offered by The Bay and its Omaha partners at the Benson Community Center and other locations across the city. Demand has continued to grow, with nearly 100 young people placed on program waitlists in 2025 alone. When The Bay Omaha opens, the organization expects to have the capacity to reach more than 2,500 young people each year, creating significantly more opportunities for youth to access safe, supportive spaces during at-risk hours.
The new facility will bring many of The Bay’s programs and experiences under one roof, creating opportunities for young people.