Liberty County children will have new opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, math and robotics, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation. 

The grant will purchase equipment for a STEM and robotics lab in the new Liberty County Boys & Girls Club facility, set to open before the end of the year. The Boys & Girls Club will empower underserved Liberty County youth to become productive members of society though development activities including safety, life skills, self-esteem, nutrition, gardening, recreation, homework assistance and career development.

 “It’s much greater than just helping this club,” said Rep. Al Williams, a Boys & Girls Club board member. “I serve on the Appropriations for Public Safety in the State House. It costs us $90,000 a year to incarcerate a juvenile. It’s a whole lot cheaper to invest in this and keep them out of the system. Jail is an expensive proposition, especially for juveniles. I look forward to this reducing that rate from Liberty County.”

Funding for foundation grants comes from Coastal Electric Cooperative members who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar through Operation Round Up. Those nickels and dimes are pooled together and invested back into the community through the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation.