CENTERVILLE—Centerville City has received a $3,000 Rocky Mountain Power Foundation grant which city leaders plan to use to fund an after-school program which will be run by members of the Centerville Youth Council. The one to two-day-a-week program will run from October to May (except for December).

“I feel that there is a need in the community to offer more enrichment opportunities other than sports,” Administration Services Director Bryce King told the city council Nov. 7. “We currently have 27 youth council members that would help facilitate/volunteer for the program. We think that we could take about 40 kids and would offer it on a month-to-month basis at a cost of $10 to $15 per month.”

At the Nov. 7 council meeting Rocky Mountain Power Regional Business Manager Logan Taggert presented the award to Centerville.

The funding received from Rocky Mountain Power will be used for equipment supplies such as 3D printers, craft supplies, science kits, Chromebooks/iPads, snacks and prizes. 

“We're really grateful for Rocky Mountain Power because they gave us funds for the batting cage, and they gave us another $3,000 this year so it's a great partnership that we've continued to have, and we hope to continue,” King said.

In the new program youth council members will be paired up with elementary-aged children and will help them with schoolwork and the afterschool programs. 

“Our plan is to involve our youth city council with this after school program,” Community Services Manager Haley Turner said. “We'd really like to turn it into a leadership program. So we'll work with the local elementary schools, their principles and family advocates to bring them in and have our youth council kind of like a mentor-mentee program teaching leadership skills.”

The afterschool program will focus on STEM, social skills, career exploration, friendship and mental health through videos, guest speakers, hands-on activities and homework assignments. They also hope that youth council members and program participants can work with community partners to create an indoor miniature golf course at Centerville City Hall which the community can enjoy for a weekend during the summer months.

“Thank you so much you have been very supportive of our city, and we really do appreciate your efforts to do that,” Mayor pro tem Gina Hirst told Taggert. “These are great programs for our youth, and we appreciate that support.”

“We want to make sure that we're good community partners and any way we can help the communities and support the communities that we serve we want to make sure that we're doing that,” Taggart responded.