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Council awards Evans Center to Club Esteem to run workforce and youth programs; $10 lease and nonprofit to cover utilities
Summary
The Palm Bay City Council on Feb. 6 selected Club Esteem to operate youth workforce and wraparound services at the city'owned Evans Center. Council approved a one-year lease with a $10 annual fee and direction that the nonprofit cover utilities and Internet; program aims to serve about 60 youth annually.
Palm Bay's City Council unanimously approved awarding the Evans Center to Club Esteem and partner organizations on Feb. 6, citing the nonprofit's workforce-development and wraparound services aimed at at-risk youth.
Staff described a formal request-for-applications process that produced three submissions; one was ineligible and another withdrew. Club Esteem's proposal would serve about 60 Palm Bay youth annually, ages 16 to 24, through career-readiness and workforce-development programs and partner organizations (MECA and CREA) that provide additional services (SEG 4118-4124). Council members said the Evans Center has kitchen and culinary equipment available from the city acquisition and that the program would use that space for training.
The council approved a one-year lease for $10 per year with the requirement the nonprofit assume routine utilities (water, electricity) and Internet service; the motion was made by Councilman Johnson and seconded by Councilman Hammer and passed unanimously (SEG 4912-4920). Council discussed program hours (staff proposed morning career-tech courses and after-hours programming) and wraparound supports, and staff said the city would remain responsible for major capital maintenance while day-to-day utilities and janitorial costs would be the nonprofit's responsibility during the initial term.
City staff said they expect the nonprofit to pursue diversified funding and partnerships, including national foundations and corporate partners; staff also noted Club Esteem currently operates an annex of the Eddie Lee Taylor Community Center and would expand programming at Evans. Club Esteem and partner representatives said they would offer programs free to youth during the start-up period and would seek grants and corporate sponsorships for sustainability.
What the council approved: a one-year lease to Club Esteem with a $10 annual fee, nonprofit responsibility for utilities and Internet during the lease term, and authorization for the city manager to execute the lease and return to council if terms change.
What happens next: Staff will draft the lease, the city's attorney will review terms and the city manager will execute the agreement. Council asked for ongoing reports on participation, budget and program outcomes.
