OMAHA, Neb. — The Bay broke ground today on a 40,000-square-foot youth center in the heart of Omaha’s Benson neighborhood at 6120 Military Ave. The project represents an over $20 million investment into the North Omaha neighborhood. The space will be a home for Omaha’s creators, skaters and changemakers.
The Bay Omaha builds on a proven model first developed in Lincoln, where The Bay has become a nationally-recognized example of how youth spaces can combine belonging, creativity, and workforce education. By scaling that model to Omaha, The Bay is extending its impact to one of the city’s largest youth populations.
“The Bay Omaha will be a space where young people can find belonging, build skills, and launch futures,” said Andrew Norman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Bay. “It’s about connecting youth to mentors, opportunities, and experiences that help them see what’s possible — and giving them the tools to get there.”Todd Simon, Chairman of the Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund Committee, said “innovative projects like The Bay add to the diverse portfolio of visitor attractions in Douglas county, elevate Benson as a cultural hub, empower our youth, and attract talent and visitors to the county.
“The VIF is thrilled to be counted as one of The Bay’s longtime supporters,” Simon said, “and we are gratified that their vision will soon be fully realized to benefit our entire community; economically, educationally and culturally.”
Omaha Mayor John Ewing said, “We know that young people who are connected and have purpose will drive our city’s future. It’s exciting to see a project like this scale up to grow impact for young people, and Omaha.”
Building on Momentum in Benson
Benson is a state-designated Creative District, making it the ideal home for The Bay’s expansion. The Bay already runs programming six days a week out of the nearby Benson Community Center — in partnership with Omaha Parks and Recreation — and through partner schools and organizations. For more than five years, The Bay has also served youth across Omaha through partnerships with Omaha Public Schools and dozens of community organizations — bringing digital music, skateboarding, mentors, and creative opportunities directly into schools and neighborhoods.
This fall, The Bay will also launch a pilot of its popular Gap Year workforce education program in Omaha, offering 18-to 24-year-olds a nine-month track to build creative, technical, and professional skills — from performance and production to design, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.
Powered by Public-Private Partnership
The Bay Omaha is made possible through a powerful public-private partnership. Early investments from the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation, Dianne and John Scott, the Edward & Sally Malashock Family Foundation, The Sherwood Foundation, the Lozier Foundation, the Peter Kiewit Foundation, and the Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund have helped launch the project.
This project is also being supported, in part, by the State of Nebraska – Department of Economic Development, through the Shovel-Ready and North and South Omaha Recovery Grant programs.
The Bay is proud to highlight a growing partnership with Metropolitan Community College. Together, MCC’s “learning for all” philosophy and The Bay’s inclusive approach are creating a skill-building continuum where curiosity turns into capability, and capability into academic and career pathways.
About the Facility
When complete, the three-level, 40,000-square-foot facility will include:
- Multiple classrooms for year-round learning and mentoring
- A music venue and creative labs for media, textiles, and emerging technologies
- An esports arena
- An indoor skatepark for all skill levels
The new Benson location is expected to open in early 2027.
Contact:
Django Greenblatt-Seay
Senior Marketing & Communications Director
The Bay
django@thebay.org | 402-201-8437
About The Bay: Since 2010, The Bay has been a lifeline and launchpad for youth — a safe space to belong, create, and chart their future. We provide inclusive, experiential youth engagement and workforce education programming for thousands of young people across Nebraska, especially those often overlooked. We operate in both Omaha and Lincoln, serving ages 4 to 24 with drop-in hours, clubs, camps, and specialized programs like Bay High and Gap Year.
At The Bay, we meet youth where they are, offering low- or no-cost access, flexible schedules, and programs aligned with their passions, from music and media to fashion, gaming, and skateboarding. Our programs help youth build confidence, make connections, and gain real-world skills that carry into career and community.
