Iredell County’s youth scholarship program named Civic Plus finalist as commissioners move to cover rising demand

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation Tuesday night on the county’s Youth Athletic Scholarship program and learned the program is a finalist for the 2025 Civic Plus Community Impact Award.

Austin Setzer, administrator for the program in Iredell County Parks & Recreation, told the board the scholarship effort began in 2024 and has awarded more than 750 scholarships so far and $53,041 in payments to youth sports organizations. “We were one of 10 nationwide selected to receive this award,” Setzer said.

The board was briefed on how the program works: the county subsidizes 75% of a participant’s registration fee and the parent or guardian covers the remaining 25%. Eligibility has been tied to means-tested programs such as SNAP, Medicaid and free or reduced-price school lunch, and local youth sports organizations help pre-screen applicants and process registrations.

County staff and commissioners described rapid growth and said the current budget will not cover anticipated spring demand without an additional appropriation. Commissioner Brown asked, “So how are you doing on budget? … could you help more if you had more money or is your budget … sufficient?” The county manager said the program’s 2025 registration cycle produced a roughly 230% increase in awards compared with the prior year and that staff will return to the board with a request for additional funds and updated application forms.

The county manager also told the board that $10,000 of the $25,000 currently allocated to scholarships comes from the sheriff’s commissary fund, with the remaining $15,000 coming from the county general fund. “We are hoping that if we can fund youth athletic scholarships, then that minimizes as they grow up them becoming an inmate at our detention center,” the county manager said, describing the program as a proactive use of commissary-generated revenue.

Setzer and others thanked a long list of local youth athletic partners who help administer scholarships and reach families, including Greg Harrison (Cloverleaf Youth Athletic Association), Dustin Grant, Celeste Henkel, Doreen Martin (Central), Justin Cagle (Troutman), Tracy Sain, Mike Davis (ARS), Wayne Harwell and the Bay Bridge board, and Andrew Maleta (Brawley Youth Athletic Association). Setzer said Parks & Recreation will update the application process to balance access and guard against misuse.

Board members also discussed facility needs tied to program growth. Staff said a design for overflow parking at Jennings Park — to be located across Dietz Road on purchased property — is expected to come to the board at an upcoming meeting. The county said the Jennings Park complex currently requires several hundred additional parking spaces to handle events.

Votes at a glance - Consent approvals: The board approved a package of administrative consent items reviewed at a 4:00 p.m. pre-agenda meeting. Items listed on the consent agenda included two proposed sewer easements or related deeds for county-owned school properties; Fire Tax Service District budget amendment No. 8 to provide $29,005.10 for South Iredell Fire Rescue apparatus repairs; information-technology contracts and circuit upgrades (including an upgrade of a Parks & Recreation circuit from 20 Mbps to 100 Mbps and a three-year data circuit for the Winston Avenue property); an amendment to the Olin Tower site agreement to establish utility service in the county’s name; an ICAPS application to use FTA Section 5307 funds (a project list that was described as just over $4,000,000) for Winston Avenue Center improvements; a $20,000 NCDMVA grant application for veteran services; a transfer of $150,000 from CIP to the Facilities Improvement Fund for Winston Avenue Center repairs; an amendment to opioid settlement funding to remove one program and maintain Category A status; and approval of minutes from the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting. All consent items were approved by the board. - Appointment: Rodney Harris was approved to serve another year as the county’s representative to the Central Line Economic Development District. Motion carried by voice vote. - Procedural: The board recessed and scheduled a joint meeting with the Iredell County Board of Health at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at 318 Tunersburg Highway, Statesville.

What it means County staff called the scholarship program an investment in youth and community development and said the program’s funding mix — including sheriff commissary funds — allows the county to subsidize sports participation for low-income families. Commissioners said they support continuing the program but that staff should return with a specific funding request and process changes to ensure funds reach families in need without being abused.

The board’s consent approvals advance several facility and technology projects, and staff will bring the Jennings Park overflow parking design back for formal consideration in an upcoming meeting. The county also announced multiple vacancies on boards and commissions and solicited applicants.

Speakers who provided substantive information during the meeting included Austin Setzer, program administrator; the county manager (name not specified in the transcript); and multiple commissioners, including Commissioner Brown. No formal ordinance or ordinance reading was adopted during the session.