Boys and Girls Club hopes selling tax credits will help expansion into Scott City

While fundraising efforts continue for the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Missouri to launch an expanded presence in Scott City, the organization just got a boost from the state Department of Economic Development.

Carol Childers, who became the not-for-profit agency's executive director in March, said it was just approved to begin selling more than $140,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to area businesses.

NAP credits allow businesses to keep their tax dollars local while being reimbursed between 50 and 70 percent of their eligible contributions.

Businesses can put the credits toward income, corporate franchise, bank, insurance and other types of taxes, and preference for selling them is given to agencies or organizations that emphasize specific outcomes, according to ded.mo.gov.

"It's very, very, very rigorous to get approved," Childers said.

Her goal is for the Boys & Girls Club to sell the NAP credits before December.

She also said she plans to reapply for the right to sell credits in the future to help fund building projects and hire more staff.

Last year, the Boys & Girls Club served 103 children in Cape Girardeau in kindergarten through fourth grades, plus a few in junior high.

The goal since the spring has been to expand those services to children between the ages of 5 and 18 in the Scott City area, where Childers said 77 percent of residents have reported being concerned the young don't have enough positive places to be outside school hours.

"We want to serve 30 to 60 kids (in Scott City), depending on budget, in the next school year," she said.

Before assuming the role of executive director, Childers served on the Boys & Girls Club board for two years. Her professional background is in banking.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

1913-15 Whitener St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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Fundraiser

Who: The Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Missouri

What: Golf tournament

When: Oct. 10

Where: Dalhousie Golf Club

Cost: $600 per team or $125 per person

For more information or to sign up: (573) 335-7141