The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier (BGCL) have had their funding resumed after threats of a freeze two weeks ago.
According to BGCL CEO Steve Mickens, the funding was resumed until June 30 of 2026.
“It does feel really good to have it back, at least for a year,” Mickens said. “It was two weeks that was very difficult.”
Mickens said they were fielding calls from parents and employees within the BGCL organization and they were not able to answer questions regarding the funding.
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 was affecting BGCL was the 21st Century grant under Title IV-B.
According to the Associated Press, in a letter on July 16 from Republican senators they said that they shared concerns about taxpayer money funding “radical left-wing programs” but they did not believe that was what was happening with Title IV-B funding.
All the other funds to the tune of nearly $5-billion are still frozen.
“This club and this organization has been around for 71 years,” Mickens said. “I think about a software engineer who went to Georgia Tech, Jada Williams … I think about the Jasmine Jenkins who is the assistant women’s coach at Davidson University … there are so many stories on that return on that investment.”
Mickens said he was able to get in contact with every representative in the area.
“We shared that the funding is important for young people and we were aligned there,” Mickens said. “It was great to have conversations around ‘how can we continue at being good stewards of this funding?’”
Mickens added that the 21st Century grant makes up $2.93-million of their $7.7-million budget and that they did not become reliant on it, but rather it catapulted them.
“If you put kids first, decision-making becomes very, very easy,” Mickens said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/7/1294133/boys-and-girls-clubs-of-lanier-funding-resumed-ceo-steve-mickens-speaks-out