The Boys and Girls Club of Washington County recently was approved funds requested from the Greenville City Council for their ongoing operations.
The Boys and Girls Club at the Aug. 15 budget session meeting requested $15,000 on behalf of workforce development and general operations.
Mayor Errick Simmons said the Boys and Girls Club is also seeking a new building and noted the club has been raising money to do just that.
Greenville Fire Chief Ruben Brown said the fire department held a boot drive on July 6 to help the organization, raising nearly $4,527.
Both Councilwoman Lois Hawkins and Vice Mayor Lurann Thomas agreed the Boys and Girls Club needs a new building. Due to this, the council agreed to allocate the full requested amount of $15,000.
Also at the Aug. 23 special budget session, council members discussed pay requests from several community partners at a previous budget session.
At the Aug. 15 meeting, Families First of Mississippi requested $10,000 to help to continue to service the community through their various programs and initiatives, such as Early Childhood, Youth Development, Workforce & Job Readiness and more.
Simmons recommended Families First ask the legislature to help and assist the organization in getting funds and the council did not approve giving funds to the organization.
Greenville Renaissance Scholars requested $25,000 at the Aug. 15 city council special budget session meeting to help with the expenses with their summer camp. Thomas suggested the council gives them $5,000 instead of the requested amount, which the council approved.
Washington County Library System requested $10,000 at the Aug. 15 meeting for their general budget to cover expenses that have increased over the last five years.
Councilman Bill Boykin said he reached out to the library and told them they shouldn’t be expecting much from the council because of $25,000 the council recently gave the library for roofing repairs.
“If we haven’t just helped with that, we would be able to assist, but we can’t right now,” Boykin explained. The council did not approve giving the library additional funds.
Greenville Reflection & Youth Development Museum requested between $15,000 to $20,000 at the Aug. 15 city council meeting to cover the continuous renovations being done to the Weinberg House, where their museum is located.
Simmons noted the museum recently received $25,000 from the county. Thomas said the council should allocate $15,000 because she “doesn’t want another dilapidated building in Ward 4.” Council members ended up voting to give them $5,000.
South Delta Planning & Development District requested between $17,000 to $20,000 at the meeting to match the nearly $10,000,000 of Aging Funds they receive from the (Mississippi?) Department of Human Services. The council agreed to give $17,200 to South Delta.
The Washington County Economic Alliance requested $75,000 at the Aug. 15 meeting for recruiting efforts, marketing of building/sites and community assets and to assist in capacity funding for a Workforce Coordinator. Council members agreed to give WCEA the full requested amount of $75,000.
Mississippi Action for Community Education (MACE) requested $25,000 at the Aug. 15 city council special budget session meeting for additional expenses for the 42nd annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival. Council members, instead, agreed to give them $12,500.
Greater Greenville Development Foundation requested $25,000 at the Aug. 15 meeting from the city and county to jointly hire an individual whose sole dedication would be to promotion and development of downtown Greenville.
Mayor Simmons said representatives need to be more proactive and aggressive when it comes to downtown.
Councilman James Wilson said downtown is not getting the attention it deserves. Council members agreed to give Greater Greenville the full amount of $25,000.
Greenville Celebrates America (July 4th) was budgeted at $4,000 for fireworks during the Fourth of July. The council agreed to allocate the full amount of $4,000.
Greenville Higher Education Center requested free recruitment assistance, which council members agreed to.
The city also budgeted $10,000 for new Christmas decorations.
There was also a consensus from the council stating there will be no charge for organizations to participate in the Christmas parade.
