Pocomoke City, Maryland

**Pocomoke City Announces Partnership with Boys & Girls Club for New Community Center**

POCOMOKE CITY, MD – In an exciting development for the residents of Pocomoke City, Mayor Nock and Councilwoman Troast have clarified details surrounding the forthcoming partnership between the city and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Eastern Shore. This collaboration aims to establish a new community center that will significantly benefit the local youth and the broader community.

Addressing recent misinformation circulating online, Mayor Nock emphatically stated, “We never said that we were giving property or donating land. We never said that we were selling. The property will remain in the possession of Pocomoke City.” He further explained that the facility, tentatively named the Pocomoke City Community Center, will primarily host the Boys & Girls Club but remain under city ownership. This arrangement ensures community-wide access and flexibility in usage, including the city’s right to terminate the contract with the Boys & Girls Club at any discretion.

Councilwoman Troast highlighted the thorough due diligence conducted prior to solidifying the partnership. Collaborating with regional educational and Boys & Girls Club officials, Councilwoman Troast sought to address critical questions concerning liability, financial responsibilities, construction timelines, and long-term property ownership. The inquiries revealed a cooperative financial strategy involving both the city’s efforts to secure Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and the Boys & Girls Club’s commitment to operational financing.

Key takeaways from the discussions include the city’s overarching liability protection, support in grant applications from the Boys & Girls Club, and a clear construction timeline contingent upon grant awarding. Councilwoman Troast reassured that, regardless of future outcomes, the property would remain a city asset, emphasizing, “The building will always be the city’s, simply operated by the Boys & Girls Club during after-school and summer camp hours.”

The proposed partnership and facility promise a win-win situation for Pocomoke City, by not only enriching the offerings for the city’s youth but also by providing a versatile space for the entire community. Councilwoman Troast expressed her confidence in the project’s impact, citing personal commitment to and involvement in the city’s educational and recreational offerings for children.

As the city of Pocomoke moves forward with this valuable initiative, community members are encouraged to stay informed through official city channels for updates on the project’s progress.