By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Over two years of hard work paid off yesterday, when the East Arkansas Economic Corporation announced that it had received at least $300,000 in youth initiative funding from the Kellogg Foundation.
In a meeting Monday, Dr. Robert Cole, consulting coordinator for the EAEC, told board members that the EAEC had received a $500,000 grant for youth initiatives from Kellogg. The grant will be paid in installments of close to $100,000 for the first three years and an additional $200,000 in funding if the programs are properly implemented.
"We've been working to get this accomplished, now it's time for us to implement all of the planning and the programs that we put on paper," said Diane Williams, grant team coordinator, adding, "I appreciate and applaud the members of the committee that have worked with me for two years. It hasn't been the easiest work to do but now it's finally paying off. The vision of this project is to help all of the children of eastern Arkansas and to try to keep any of them from falling through the cracks. This has taken a lot of talking and a lot of meetings but now it's time for the real work to begin. We have to implement the ideas that made this grant happen so that we can better things for the children."
Cole also spoke to board members about the implementation process and what it will involve.
"The most important thing for us now is getting these programs implemented, that will show everyone that what we put on paper we can do. In order for us to do that we will need someone that will be able to see our vision and complete what we've set out to do," Cole said.
According to Cole, this project began in 1999 when Wheatley Mayor Larry Nash and Arkansas Land and Farm Development Commission Director, Calvin King Sr., attended a meeting on youth initiatives in West Memphis.
"The first people that we need to thank for this project are Mayor Nash and Mr. King because without their insight and without them pursuing this the information to get this project off the ground, we never would have been able to do this. After attending a meeting where these funds were mentioned these two men came back to the EC board and spoke to us about the need to seek these funds and we've pursued them and finally have gained the funding," Cole said.
Cole also told board members that youth groups and schools throughout the EAEC were contacted regarding joining the youth initiative and representatives from the organizations that joined formed a team which worked to fulfill the requirements of the Kellogg Foundation.
The Forrest City City Council will meet in regular session tonight at 7 at city hall.
On the agenda is a report on the status of the multi-purpose facility, and a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for a grant through the state Department of Parks and Tourism.
Also on the agenda are two requests for variances, and a citizen who wishes to address the council over the erosion of a ditch.
Forrest City Junior High will register all incoming eighth and ninth grade students on Thursday, Aug. 9.
Incoming eighth grade students will pick up schedules at the Old Stewart Elementary Building on Water Street. Registration will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m., and 12:30-3 p.m. Students who owe fines for lost books at Lincoln must go to Lincoln first and be released.
All ninth grade students will pick up their schedules at Forrest City High School from 8:30-11"30 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. All ninth grade students must pay $15 at the time of registration for the purchase of a gym uniform.