Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence is on track to have $18,000 in hand for National Grid by the end of the month in order to cover back payments on electric and natural gas service to its Fox Point headquarters, according to CEO John F. Brewster.

Brewster says the club so far has $30,000 in donations and pledges from a fundraising campaign to "keep the lights on." It also plans to trim expenses by about $15,000 per month by laying off an undisclosed number of part-time workers and scaling back the hours of full-time workers, Brewster added.

The club, which operates six facilities in Providence, North Providence and Charlestown, has 42 total employees. It has an operating budget of about $2.5 million.

Brewster says the club experienced a "temporary cash flow problem" this year and fell behind on its utility payments. National Grid temporarily cut power to the club's Fox Point headquarters last month after its debt climbed to $70,000.

The club struck a deal with the utility to pay off its debt by June 30 on the Fox Point facility, which also houses a youth center, a swimming pool, a city branch library and a senior center.

The club immediately launched a fundraising campaign and has since received donations from businesses, individuals and organizations, including International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) Local 99.

As long as the club meets the June 30 deadline for paying off the Fox Point debt and stays current on all of its monthly utility bills going forward, National Grid has agreed to come up with a payment plan that will help the club cover the outstanding debt on its other facilities, according to Brewster.

 Tags  National Grid Providence RI

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