The YMCA of the Capital Area announced to members Friday that it will be closing the C.B. Pennington Jr. location permanently in February.

In a letter to members, the YMCA cited a host of reasons for the closure, including 2016 flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the letter, Josh Landry, interim CEO of YMCA of the Capital Area, called closing the location the "last possible alternative."

The location will officially close on Feb. 1.

"The last several years have been very challenging for most nonprofits," Landry said.

Financial pressures from flooding was compounded by the increase of staffing costs, insurance and a growing loss of revenue since COVID.

In the past few years, volunteers and staff leaders have "worked diligently to raise new funds, maximize revenue, find new efficiencies, and reduce expenses, but these actions have not been enough to offset the growing financial deficit at the C.B. Pennington Jr. YMCA," Landry said.

Alternatives to funding the location were attempted, according to the letter, including a $4 million investment following the initial flooding and a new membership pricing scheme meant to attract new members.

The YMCA also noted that closing the C.B. Pennington Jr. location is necessary to protect the financial health of the YMCA of the Capital Area and the YMCA at large.

At the end of the letter, Landry invites YMCA members to use their membership at any of the YMCA's other seven branches.