Boys & Girls Club unveils two rural Nevada projects after $6 million in foundation commitments

Travis Crowder, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Mason Valley, told the Lyon County Board of County Commissioners on April 2 that the nonprofit is moving ahead on two early-childhood projects: a Dayton Early Learning Center and a combined Boys & Girls Club and early learning center in Silver Springs.

The Dayton center is under construction and is “set to open in about August, September,” Crowder said. The facility is sized for a little over 60 children from infants through pre-kindergarten and, he said, already has reservations from families.

In Silver Springs, Crowder described plans for a shared campus on four acres adjacent to the elementary, middle and high schools. The design combines a traditional Boys & Girls Club (kindergarten through high-school programming and a dedicated teen space) with a licensed early learning center serving roughly 50 children. Crowder told the board the full build-out, including playgrounds, a commercial kitchen and staffing, is likely to cost between $7 million and $7.5 million.

“We are going to build a brand new both boys and girls clubhouse and early learning center in the Silver Springs community,” Crowder said. He said two foundations have already committed about $6 million toward the project but have set a condition: “one of the pieces that was part of the caveat is we have to turn over dirt this year.” Crowder added that the foundations will not require the project to be finished this year, but construction must start to secure the funds.

Nick Beaton, the club’s director of development, outlined program goals, emphasizing after-school academic support and the club’s daily “power up” tutoring for reading, math and writing. The presenters also stressed partnerships with Lyon County Human Services, Boys & Girls Club affiliates in the county and the mobile crisis response team.

County commissioners welcomed the plans and offered assistance. Commissioner Jacobson called the project a public benefit and urged county staff to help “push this through whenever we get something.” Other commissioners praised the club’s programming and said they would help remove potential barriers or help expedite permitting and utility connections where feasible.

Crowder said partners are working through permitting and water connections with local utilities and that the club will return to county bodies as funding and approvals proceed. Until all permits and final funding agreements are in place, the club will rely on interim sites and phased construction.

Next steps: Crowder said the club will continue permitting and finance work and expects to begin construction this year to meet the funding condition from the lead foundations.