Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland has announced a capital campaign that hopes to raise $10 million to construct a regional teen center.
The center would serve students from 26 high schools, with a goal of opening in Poplar Bluff in the fall of 2026, according to the Board of Directors.
“We’ve done a ton of work on this,” shared Chris Rushin, chief executive officer. “We worked with a consulting group, CCS Fundraising, and the results say the community can and would support this.”
The center would serve between 120-150 students, offering and expanding on programs already in place at Boys & Girls Club, which includes access to career training and college courses.
“This will supercharge our Great Futures College program,” Rushin said. “We’re working closely with the (Poplar Bluff) Technical Career Center. ... We have an incredible college right here in our backyard. We’re going to make sure it’s available to every one of our kids.”
The project has already been awarded $4 million in state funding, Sen. Jason Bean shared Monday, during a luncheon for members of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. This includes $2 million that requires an additional $2 million in matching funds to be raised by the group, Bean shared, as well as $2 million that does not require matching funds. These came from the state’s 2023 and 2024 fiscal years respectively.
The regional center is planned for a location on the campus of Poplar Bluff High School, with a long-term lease approved by the district in April.
“This strategic site selection aims to eliminate the logistical and financial burdens associated with transporting over 60 high school student members currently served by BGCH,” BGCH leadership said in a press release. “The establishment of this facility will also extend its benefits to neighboring schools, which rely on the technical career center.”
Boys & Girls Club has identified 26 school districts within a 45-minute drive of Poplar Bluff that could benefit, Rushin said.
The group already can provide up to 18 college credits for the teens they serve, staff said. In the last school year, 37 students from Poplar Bluff, Neelyville and Doniphan took college courses through the Boys & Girls Club program. The club also offers access to certified work training programs.
“A profound partnership between BGCH and Three Rivers College promises to substantially enhance workforce development in the community, yielding an influx of over 150 qualified labor candidates each year,” the board said.
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