Funding freeze leaves Boys and Girls Club fall programming uncertain

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio may close sites and reduce programming this fall if a federal funding freeze remains in place. The Northeast Ohio clubs lost $1.8 million in previously approved 21st Century Community Learning Center funds allocated to 11 clubs in the group's network for the upcoming school year, according to a news release. The 21st Century program supports high-quality, after-school learning and activities for children in eligible schools. The stop places those services at risk for about 1,200 students served by Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. The freeze does not affect the Boys and Girls Club's current summer programming, but it is reevaluating its operations for the upcoming school year, CEO Allen Smith said in a news release. "We were counting on this approved funding to provide vital services to our kids and their families," Smith said in the release. "We hope the funds will be released and any contingency plans won't be needed." The frozen 21st Century grant funds include six clubs in Lorain County. 21st Century Community Learning Center grants are awarded on a five-year cycle. Lorain Schools' Larkmoor, Frank Jacinto and Garfield clubs would be in their third year; Washington in its fourth year and Admiral King Elementary in its final year, according to Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio Director of Communications Ken Wood. Clearview Schools' club serving Vincent Elementary and Durling Middle School would be in its final funding year. "The 21st Century funding freeze does not necessarily mean we won't operate at those sites," Wood said in an email. "That hasn't been determined. Since this is new information, we're taking a look at how we can serve the most kids with the resources we do have. We hope to have a club roster determined by mid-August." The local funding freeze is part of a larger stop to after-school and summer program funding by President Donald Trump's administration. The $6 billion funding freeze affected Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA and school programs across the country after the Trump administration accused states and schools of using federal education grants to fund "a radical left-wing agenda." The organization was told it should not depend on state reimbursement in this fiscal year, according to the news release. Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio serves children in Lorain County, Cleveland, Akron and Sandusky. More than 20 states including California, New York, Colorado, Massachusetts, Arizona, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, sued the administration on Monday over the freeze. Ohio has not joined the suit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.