Following the Trump administration’s withholding of more than $6-billion in federal funding, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier (BGCL) is one of the many organizations who have spoken about the potential effects of the freeze.
The funding freeze included grants for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy, and more. The freeze is to ensure the grants align with President Donald Trump’s priorities according to the Associated Press.
“Without these dollars, which were already approved by Congress, we’re not sure how long we can continue to provide academic support and mentoring services to help families and create great futures for kids in the communities we serve,” BGCL’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Mickens, said. “Our organization helps more than 1,500 kids and teens each day, and they don’t deserve to have that help taken away.”
In an email to states on June 30, the day before the funding was supposed to start flowing, the Department of Education wrote: “Given the change in administrations, the Department is reviewing the FY 2025 funding for the [Title I-C, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B] grant program(s), and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year.”
Those programs listed were for as follows, with the amounts based on fiscal year 2024:
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Title I-C: migrant education ($375-million)
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Title II-A: professional development ($2.2-billion)
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Title III-A: English learner services ($890-million)
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Title IV-A: academic enrichment ($1.3-billion)
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Title IV-B: before and after-school programs ($1.4-billion)
The specific program that may affect BGCL is the 21st Century grant, a federal program under Title IV-B that supports community learning centers. In FY 2024, Georgia took in the seventh most of that grant money at $47.1-million. $3-million of that went to BGCL.
“Our data shows that 100% of Club members who participate regularly go on to graduate high school,” Mickens said. “And data from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America has found students served with the help of 21st Century grants show better attendance, stronger engagement, and improved academic outcomes – with 70% completing more homework and nearly half overcoming chronic absenteeism.”
BGCL asked for the community’s support in a “call to action” to Congress, asking those in the counties they serve of Hall, Habersham, and Forsyth to call their representatives to restore and release the funding already allocated.
For Habersham and Hall, that is U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde for Georgia’s 9th Congressional District and for Forsyth it is U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District.
In the senate, it is U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/7/1292816/boys-and-girls-clubs-of-lanier-could-be-affected-by-the-trump-administrations-funding-freeze