Tribe breaks ground on new Boys & Girls center

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Boys and Girls Club Teen Center in the Pearl River Community. Once opened, this new facility will replace the current facility across from the Tribal Attorney General’s Office, which serves Tribal youth ages 12-18.  

“The main thing we’re here for are these kids,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben. “They need the space, and the opportunity came to us. I am glad that, along with the Tribal Council, all Boys and Girls Club staff, and with the help of Construction Management, we were able to facilitate something that will be here for future generations.” 

The new facility will be a 11,020 square-foot steel building with a standing seam metal roof. The front half of the building will be for administrative and functional purposes: four offices, a conference/training room, restrooms, kitchen/concession area, storage and up to six classrooms, with some of the classrooms allowing flexibility to become a large space for dining or other functions. The rear of the building will be an open gymnasium with basketball goals, sleeves for volleyball, and space for many more activities. A space off from the gym kitchen will provide ample and easily accessible storage for tables, chairs, supplies, and dry goods. The kitchen equipment is like the ones in the recently constructed community CERF buildings, but there will be a walk-in cooler to allow for more efficient purchasing, storage, and distribution of perishable items to the various Boys and Girls Club locations. 

Costs associated with the site development and engineering for the project were donated by Morton Construction and Willis Engineering. Building design was developed by Yates Construction, LLC at no cost. Construction on the new Teen Center began immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony and is scheduled to be completed in June 2023.