The Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland broke ground on a new 31,000-square-foot Regional Workforce Development Teen Center 15 years in the making Monday afternoon. A lineup of stakeholders and visionaries for the project addressed the crowd of community leaders and sponsorship partners in the freshly cleared and annexed lot next to Highway 67 and Poplar Bluff High School.
The new building will serve as a central hub for BGC activities involving ten school districts throughout the region. BGCHEART Chief Operating Officer Robbie Toth-Cosby, a veteran of the organization since 2006, highlighted the broad impact the club can have on the youth.
The combined enrollment between the Poplar Bluff and Neelyville locations is 900 students.
“With our new facility, can you imagine how many more teens we can impact?” she stated.
Toth-Cosby praised the ongoing partnerships between BGC and community education institutions like Poplar Bluff R-I School District and Three Rivers College to provide a host of new opportunities to club members. Assistant Superintendent Chief Financial Officer of PB R-I Charles Kinsey said the project represents years of planning and effort.
“It is something that has been in the works for a long time,” he added, “It seemed like a pipe dream, but here we are.”
In a previous interview, BGCHEART Chief Executive Officer Chris Rushin stated the fundraising goal for the project was $10 million.
“We have seen so much in our schools as the result of the Boys and Girls Club,” Kinsey emphasized.
Ben Traxel, architect at Pilot Construction Solutions, praised the benefit the new facility will have on the region.
“This is going to be one of the best things for kids in Southeast Missouri,” he affirmed, “I’m proud of Poplar Bluff taking the initiative.”
Director of Resource Development and Finance for BGCHEART Terri McCormick praised the efforts of the club’s board of directors.
“You guys have stood by us over the years,” she expressed, “I appreciate everything you do for club.”
President of the board Lara Moffitt said that in roughly Oct. of next year, the projected completion date for the new facility, BGCHEART will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.
She recounted the struggles the chapter has gone through including being down to just $700 in the bank account going into 2020.
“We emerged from that, as we stand today, in possibly the most stable financial position we’ve been in,” Moffitt stated.
She encouraged attendees to keep giving to the cause as work still needs to be done. Rushin commended the efforts of volunteers and staff members for their work with the next generation.
“The number one reason kids come to club is staff,” he said.
Rushin recalled having to abandon the BGC’s old building due to structural issues and PB R-I stepping in to provide alternative accommodations. After years of planning and fundraising, a dedicated BGCHEART facility is becoming a reality.
“We’ve come a long, long way,” he said, “Today we turn dirt. Tomorrow we turn out kids ready to lead.”
State Senator Jason Bean asserted, “Who’s the biggest winners today? The children.”
McCormick noted there are still sponsorship opportunities available for the new center.