Erin Hill
Gadsden County News Service
More than three years after receiving $3.6 million in state funding for a new Boys and Girls Club, Gadsden County commissioners have approved another proposed location for the long-delayed project.
The commission voted 4-1 Thursday, Oct. 15, to pursue purchasing property owned by New Life Ministries in Quincy, with county-owned land on Strong Road serving as an alternative if the purchase cannot be completed.
Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins cast the lone dissenting vote during the special meeting.
The decision marks another change in plans for a project that has moved through several proposed locations since funding was secured in 2023, including property near the Martin Luther King Jr. track, North Graves Street and Ward’s Lot.
The Florida Legislature appropriated $3,618,705 during the 2023-24 fiscal year for construction of a hurricane-resistant Boys and Girls Club and community center. The facility is intended to provide a permanent location for after-school programs, educational activities and other services for children and families.
In September 2024, county officials announced plans for a facility near the Martin Luther King Jr. track in Quincy and scheduled community meetings to gather public input. At the time, the county anticipated the facility would open in 2025.
However, the project continued to encounter disagreements over its location.
In September 2025, commissioners rejected a proposal to use county-owned property on Strong Road by a 2-3 vote before unanimously approving a site at 122 N. Graves St.
The Quincy City Commission subsequently rejected the North Graves Street location, forcing county officials to reconsider their plans.
By December 2025, the county had reached an agreement with the Gadsden County School Board to acquire Ward’s Lot, property near North Washington and Stewart streets in Quincy. The transfer documents were signed Dec. 16.
The following month, commissioners approved a building design for the Ward’s Lot location. The plans called for a facility of approximately 6,000 square feet, with space for educational programs, offices and other activities. Officials discussed the possibility of breaking ground in June.
Construction did not begin, and the county continued evaluating other locations.
During Thursday’s special meeting, Finance Director Rose Raynak presented two options for moving the project forward: property associated with New Life Ministries and the county-owned 22-acre parcel on Strong Road.
The New Life Ministries property includes approximately seven acres, with five acres offered for acquisition, according to county meeting documents.
Raynak explained that the state appropriation allows the county to purchase property using project funds. However, she cautioned that money spent acquiring land would reduce the amount available for construction.
During the presentation, the proposed building’s size was identified as approximately 5,400 square feet.
Raynak said the county would need to obtain ownership of the New Life Ministries property, complete a civil engineering study and review the existing building design before construction could begin.
She estimated the engineering work would take approximately 30 days and said it could be completed while the county handled the property purchase.
The county also must advertise a request for proposals for construction. Raynak said the documents were ready but had been held while officials considered earlier site options.
The New Life Ministries property is zoned industrial and would not require a land-use change, although a lot split could be necessary depending on the final property arrangement.
The Strong Road property would eliminate the need to purchase land because it is already owned by the county. However, that location would require new construction because there is no existing building available for renovation.
Raynak said Strong Road would also require engineering work, design review and city permits. The property is zoned for mixed use and would not require a land-use change.
Vice Chairman Ronterious Green questioned whether the state funding could be used to purchase the New Life Ministries property and construct the facility there. Officials confirmed that both expenses were permitted under the appropriation.
Commissioners also discussed the importance of selecting a location that would be accessible to children and families while allowing room for future expansion.
Public comments emphasized transportation access and the possibility of eventually adding recreational amenities such as swimming pools and gymnasiums.
Commissioner Brenda Holt discussed making the purchase contingent on conditions involving the property’s price, appraisal and other requirements, with Strong Road available if an agreement could not be reached.
Simpkins expressed a preference for using county-owned property, saying she wanted the county to take the clearest path toward getting construction underway.
The board ultimately voted 4-1 to pursue the New Life Ministries property first, leaving Strong Road as the alternative.
The vote does not complete a property purchase, and the county has not announced a final acquisition price.
The project also faces a funding deadline. During Thursday’s meeting, Raynak identified June 30, 2027, as the project end date for both proposed locations.
The deadline adds urgency to a project that has already missed earlier anticipated construction and opening dates.
With the location still dependent on a property agreement, the county must complete the remaining engineering, design, permitting and construction requirements before the facility can open.
The county has not announced a new groundbreaking date.
