Club prepares to open doors

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Now that the Greenville YMCA’s move is complete to its new facility, workers can turn their focus at transforming Beeland Park’s facility into the Greenville Boys & Girls Club.

Cederick Williams, executive director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Alabama, said he is excited about the opportunity to really get the program started in the Camellia City.

&uot;We have spent some time painting walls and laying some carpet,&uot; he said.

&uot;We’ve turned what use to be the weight room in to a children’s game room.&uot;

Williams said everything for the facility is on order including computers for the classrooms.

He said first, there are structural items to be handled at the building.

&uot;Whenever you have a business or organization in the same building for several years like the Y was here,&uot; he said, &uot; you are going to have to do some work to bring everything to code.&uot;

The City of Greenville has pitched in with the cleanup and minor renovations at the building.

The city leased the facility to the BGC for one year for $1.

Williams said he is also excited that a new director has been named.

&uot;After our search, we named Jason Taylor as the center’s director,&uot; he said.

&uot;He has been there a few days and is overseeing the work being done.&uot;

Taylor said Tuesday he is happy to be back in area.

He grew up near the Crenshaw/Butler county line and said he considers Greenville a part of his old stomping grounds.

&uot;I’m just excited about being here and being a part of this great organization,&uot; he said.

&uot;After several years away I was looking for a position that would allow me to help others and this is where I landed.&uot;

Both Williams and Taylor said no definite plans for the grand opening have been made but that they expect it to be in the next three weeks.

&uot;Right now we have hired two of our staff members and are advertising for two more,&uot; Taylor said.

&uot;We hope to fill those positions quickly and be ready to go operational.&uot;

Williams said the startup funding for the BGC came from a grant from the BGC’s national foundation and it was for $40,000.

&uot;We have also been blessed to received funding from both the city of Greenville and the Butler County Commission,&uot; he said.

&uot;Everyone has been very kind and receptive to the program and I know it will be successful here.&uot;