Wellington trustees approve $5,000 grant to Boys and Girls Club for summer workforce program

The Wellington Town Board of Trustees voted unanimously July 8 to award a $5,000 community grant from the board’s discretionary fund to the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County to support its Summer of Discovery programming in Wellington.

The grant will be used this summer to support the club’s workforce-exploration and hands-on programming at the Sage Homes Wellington Club and at Rice Elementary, officials said at the meeting. "Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens," Allison Hines of the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County told trustees during the presentation.

The program in Wellington serves two Club locations: roughly 80 registered youth at the Sage Homes Wellington Club and 120 at Rice Elementary, Hines said; average daily attendance for the Sage Homes site during the Summer of Discovery is about 50–55 children. Hines said the summer program runs seven to eight weeks, partners with about 20 local businesses and institutions for career-exploration weeks, and includes weekly field trips coordinated with the Poudre School District. She said the Wellington-specific Summer of Discovery budget is about $65,000 and that funding comes largely from foundations, grants and individuals, with approximately 16% drawn from the Club’s general operating revenue.

Trustees and a public commenter discussed whether to increase the Town’s grant. Darren Roberson of Sage Homes told the board he would match any additional funds the town approved, saying the Club was short of what it needed. Trustee Teets, who said she was "completely comfortable" approving the grant, urged a required written report within 60 days so the town could confirm how taxpayer funds were spent: "Knowing that it will directly impact 55 children in this program is huge," Teets said.

Trustees expressed support for funding youth programming but also asked staff for follow-up on other town commitments. Administrator Garcia reported the town’s HUD-related grant program had a remaining balance of $2,700 and reminded the board that staff would return with options for addressing that program’s needs; trustees asked staff to bring back a follow-up agenda item within about two weeks to consider any additional discretionary funding for the Boys and Girls Club if money remains available. Board members also noted other local needs, including senior transportation and HUG/HUD-related assistance programs, when weighing how much of the discretionary fund to allocate now.

The board approved the $5,000 grant by roll call vote (Trustee Teets: yes; Trustee Wiegand: yes; Trustee Cannon: yes; Trustee Daly: yes; Mayor Burton Mason: yes). Staff said the award will require the same reporting the town uses for other community grants, and the Town will add the Club’s presentation slides to the meeting packet after the meeting.

The decision follows the Board’s stated priorities of youth engagement and fostering economic vibrancy through workforce-exploration opportunities. Trustees and presenters emphasized that the summer program’s hands-on exposure to trades, entrepreneurship and careers is intended to broaden students’ post–high school options.

Trustees closed the item and moved on to reports; staff will return with an update on the HUD/HUG grant balance and options for any additional discretionary allocations.