Explorers get state grant
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on February 7, 2016 1:45 AM
Gov. Pat McCrory's youth advocacy and involvement office announced Thursday that it had chosen 15 youth organizations across the state to receive a total of $6,300 in grant funding.
Among the 15 youth organizations selected was the Goldsboro Police Department's Explorer Post 209 Youth Training Program.
The program received $500 from the total grant amount that was released to youth programs across the state, which was the top amount that was awarded to various organizations with grant awards ranging from $100 to $500.
The explorers program applied for the grant before Christmas of 2015, and did so by working in conjunction with the Goldsboro Mayor's Youth Council.
Capt. Trey Ball with the Goldsboro Police Department said the $500 will go toward funding a firearms program that focuses on marksmanship and firearms safety for the explorers program.
"The firearms program is not something we've been able to do previously because of the costs associated with getting off the ground," Ball said.
There are already plans in the works for what the structure of the course will be.
"We have certified firearms instructors with the police department that will work with the explorers to go over basic marksmanship techniques and firearm safety guidelines in a classroom environment," Ball said. "Then, we'll take them to a range so they can get hands-on firearms training."
Other grant recipients around the state are as follows:
* Catawba County 4-H, Newton, $360
* Community Outreach Assistance Services, Fayetteville, $400
* Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council, Fayetteville, $390
* Thomasville Teen Council, Thomasville, $500
* Winston-Salem Youth Council, Winston-Salem, $400
* Greene County 4-H, Snow Hill, $500
* High Point Youth Council, High Point, $479.01
* Alternative Solutions, Inc., Durham, $100
* Harnett United Police/Sheriff, Lillington, $500
* Rocky Mount Youth Council, Rocky Mount, $500
* Community Boys and Girls Club, Wilmington, $300
* Person High School, Roxboro, $379.01
* Polk County 4-H Teen Council, Mill Spring, $483.98
* Wilson Youth Council, Wilson, $500