CINCINNATI (WXIX) – There are many impacts the Tri-State will see as the Big Beautiful Bill takes effect, including those at the local level.
One of the organizations bracing for changes is the Boys and Girls Club, which has been left out of the national budget.
Like the Boys and Girls Club, the President’s budget for fiscal year 2026 will zero out funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which are community-based organizations.
And the funding already approved by Congress for this year is on hold as the programs are under review for misappropriations.
“We’re looking at about a thousand clubs that could be forced to close their doors,” said Adam Shank, President and CEO of the Ohio Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.
Shank says many of their sites are directly run through federal dollars, putting them at risk.
“Pretty detrimental to the tens of thousands of youth here in the state of Ohio,” Shank said.
13 Boys and Girls Clubs of Ohio operate over 100 sites across Ohio, with the capacity to serve 60,000 kids in kindergarten through 12th grade.
That’s more than any other youth-focused organization outside of the public school system.
“It’ll be a difficult decision. Obviously, we strive for sustainability, but there likely will be sites that won’t be able to maintain and keep their doors open,” Shank said.
The White House says findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been “grossly misused.”
Shank says this will affect families, children and their caregivers.
“We’re talking 220,000 kids that could lose support and services nationwide,” Shank said. “So, when we talk about those big numbers that we’re showing here in Ohio, when you extend that out nationwide, it’s going to be a tremendous economic impact as well as incredibly detrimental to the kids who rely on this to help bring them along academically, socially and emotionally. Something we’re trying to mitigate here at the state level, but as of right now, not a lot of recourse.”
The Afterschool Alliance has launched a petition and is encouraging people to contact their congressional representatives, attorney general and governor to push the White House to release the funds.
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