Boys and Girls Clubs receives state funds

Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County will receive $500K for capital improvements for a teen center.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County will receive $500,000 for capital improvements for a teen center.

Mike Conibear, executive director of the Lorain County Clubs, said the funds are for expanding the Desich Family Campus, 4111 Pearl Road in Lorain.

A news release from state Rep. Gayle Manning, a North Ridgeville Republican, said the expansion will be 17,139 square feet and will assist in the Clubs serving about 6,000 youth in the county.

“(Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County) is a valuable asset in our community,” Manning said. “Their commitment and dedication in preparing our young people for their futures is inspiring, and these capital funds are well deserved.”

Conibear said the expansion is a part of the Cubs’ teen center and the project is in conjunction with the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County, or MHARS Board.

“There’s prevention services included in that grant which we will include in the building that we will provide in partnership with the MHARS Board,” he said. “It’s definitely a partnership, so we’ll be able to have LCADA Way or something like that having a presence in our building at all times for kids and families.”

State Rep. Joe Miller, an Amherst Democrat, also put out a news release touting the funds which adds that the allocation was coupled with a contract tying Boys & Girls Clubs to the campus for at least another 30 years.

“I am excited to see how the Boys and Girls Clubs grows with this new addition to their building,” Miller said. “Their work is pivotally important to so many families in our area, and it’s great to see the state supporting that.”

Conibear said the plans for the $3 million expansion still are in the early stages, but he’s hoping there will be some sort of work started in spring 2020.

“I think it’s good for the community and it’s reaching some underserved youth,” he said. “As we all know, the need for teen services is important for all people in the community and providing a safe place for these kids to attend.

“There’s a lack of services for older kids and with us not (in Lorain City Schools) now, our intentions for the city of Lorain is to hopefully build a facility that can be used county-wide for teenagers to use and also down the road to build recreation there, too.”