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BEMIDJI 鈥� The Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area has announced plans to open a new branch in Blackduck in partnership with Blackduck 歪歪漫画.

Set to open at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the branch will serve up to 100 youth in grades K-8, operating all day Mondays when school is not in session and after school Tuesdays through Fridays. Plans for a summer program will be announced in spring 2025.

鈥淭his is an exciting time for us,鈥� Boys and Girls Club executive director Andrea Kent said in a release. 鈥淎 lot of people have been working over the past four years to bring together the leadership and funding to make this dream possible. We are grateful to the school leadership, United Way and the whole Blackduck community for welcoming us and partnering with us to serve Blackduck youth.鈥�

The new branch is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education, which will fund approximately 60% of the operations for the first two years. Additional programming support will be secured through individual and business donations, special events, membership fees, ongoing support from the United Way and grants.

鈥淲e are thrilled to see the expansion of the Boys & Girls Clubs into Blackduck,鈥� United Way of Bemidji Area executive director Denae Alamano said in the release. 鈥淭his is a crucial step in addressing some of the most critical needs in the Blackduck community. United Way is proud to support this endeavor and thankful for the generous support of Blackduck residents to support their youth.鈥�

Discussions about expanding services to Blackduck began in 2020 when the United Way expanded its Backpack Buddies program to Blackduck to address childhood and teen food insecurity and established a mobile food pantry. At that time, community members also expressed the need for high-quality, consistent after-school programming.

Through the Minnesota Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, which represents clubs across the state, discussions began about how to better meet the needs of youth, especially in rural Minnesota. The Alliance began advocating at the state level for funds to expand and establish new youth programs in various communities.

The first funds were secured in summer 2023. After extensive local organizing between the Blackduck 歪歪漫画 District and community members, Blackduck was awarded a grant to fund a club expansion in 2024.

鈥淏lackduck 歪歪漫画 is looking forward to sharing our space with the Boys and Girls Club to provide our community with an excellent opportunity for our youth,鈥� Dean of Students Peter Bahr said in the release. 鈥淚 look forward to seeing the possibilities they will offer and provide to our students.鈥�

Students who wish to enroll must complete a membership application with materials being released in May 2024.

Anyone interested in helping guide and market the new branch should contact Lori Lundberg at lori@northwoodslumber.com or Andrea Kent at andrea.kent@bgcbemidji.org.