Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Services And Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Belhaven community group takes over after‑school program; county approves one‑time $13,334 allocation
Summary
A locally run after‑school nonprofit in Belhaven opened with 20 children and asked for county assistance after the Boys & Girls Club closure; commissioners approved a one‑time appropriation of $13,334, to be taken from the existing Boys & Girls Club allocation, and required standard county funding agreements.
Belle Haven community leaders presented a local 501(c)(3) after‑school program that opened on Oct. 18 to replace the recent closure of the Boys & Girls Club in Belhaven. CEO Shantel Russell said 20 children attended the first day, that volunteers and donated goods supported the operation, and that the group will apply to the Division of Child Development for food‑program participation and provide tutoring and summer programming.
Mayor Ricky Bridal and other local figures described transition steps and in‑kind support (facility and utilities paid by the town). The group requested county assistance to cover staffing costs while fundraising ramps up.
Commissioners debated fairness and precedent for reallocating county funding from a countywide outside agency to a localized substitute. Finance staff said the county had not yet spent the annual $40,000 allocated to outside agencies and could reallocate funds. After discussion on accountability and conflict‑of‑interest safeguards, the board approved a motion to appropriate $13,334 to the Belhaven program and to reduce the Boys & Girls Club allocation by the same amount; the county manager will require the standard agreement and reporting paperwork for outside agency grants.
Why it matters: The funding decision addresses an immediate child‑care service gap in Belhaven and sets expectations about how the county manages allocations to external nonprofits and holds them accountable.
What’s next: County staff will prepare the funding agreement and follow up with both the local after‑school group and the Boys & Girls Club to document how the reallocation will be tracked.
