12-03-2025
Wary of federal cuts, church backs off plans for after-school program expansion
Mar. 12—The rapid-fire cuts to federal spending are creating ripple effects across the nation, including at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville free after-school program for middle schoolers.
Plans were to apply for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, one focused on after-school programs that foster building skills and abilities for the next generation.
The uncertainty surrounding federal funding for the Department of Education has caused church program directors to pull back on the application process that would have created not just a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program for middle- and high-schoolers in the community, but also tons of paperwork.
"We were ready to take on that amount of work, but very nervous about the potential interruption in funding," said Matthew Blackburn, the director of youth ministries at FUMC. Prior to the government budget shake-up and questions about the Education Department's future, the program was designed to provide a three-year funding source as long as certain benchmarks were met. "We heard the news about federal cuts, reached out to our contacts in North Carolina and did not finish the application process," Blackburn said.
FUMC has provided a free after-school program for middle schoolers for more than a decade. It's a place where students can get a snack, hang out, get help with homework or burn off excess energy after being cooped up in a classroom all day.
In 2019, the program received grant funding, and holds an annual golf gala to help support the program expenses and staffing.
The church started exploring the 21st Century grant option in 2023, something leaders felt positive about since there were no other recipients in the county. But with the uncertainty surrounding the program, Blackburn said the church decided to consolidate existing efforts and focus on other potential financial partners.
Preparations for the 21st Century grant were not all lost, and some changes had already been put in place to ensure the program would qualify for the grant. To qualify, a more structured, learning-based program would need to be offered to those interested. The result was an option for three days of learning and two days of activities, with one usually involving volunteerism.
"We grew our middle school program from one day a week to four days a week," Blackburn said.
Monday is Circular Economy Day; Tuesday is Repair Day; Wednesday focuses on a combined cooking/Spanish class, and Thursday is horticulture day on the Haywood Community College campus.
Scuttling the grant program means that the students will be reintegrated back into the original after-school program, and the enhanced opportunities will be gone unless other funding is found.
The grant provided up to $150,000 a year, with staffing as the largest component.
Going forward, middle school students in the program called Jounce-plus will be absorbed into the other middle school programming.
The high school program will continue through the end of the school year and only reopen if funding is found.
To learn more about the FUMC after school program, visit the church web site and click on the Youth tab.
