United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA)聽will be creating a teen center in Holbrook through a $150,000 grant from the healthcare company Wellpoint.
A former retail space at 1002 W. Hopi Drive will be renovated for the new teen center.
The project kicked off with a June 13 event.
Two years ago, UWNA supported a youth-led mental health survey, which found that local teens wanted a safe and inclusive space of their own, according to a June 10 announcement of the project. Grow Arizona proposed a facility that would be a teen center and workforce development hub around the same time.
UWNA President and CEO Liz Archuleta described the project as a 鈥渃ollaborative community vision brought to life.鈥�
鈥淲e believe in the power of strong communities, and this project reflects our commitment to helping young people access the tools, resources and support they need to thrive,鈥� said Wellpoint marketing director Tara Kimbell. 鈥淔rom career training and educational planning to mentorship and emotional support, this center will be a safe and inspiring place where teens can build confidence, learn valuable skills and plan for a successful future.鈥�
The building for the center was donated by Brian Gardner.
Arizona State Contracting will be contributing its services at cost.
Future plans for the site include a two-story entrepreneur center adjacent to the center, with a resale shop, artist consignment space and two vacation rental units to be used for hospitality training.
鈥淭his effort represents more than just a building,鈥� said Linda Kor, who is co-CEO of Grow Arizona along with Holbrook Mayor Kathleen Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a commitment to the young people of Navajo County. We believe this center will shape lives by providing teens with meaningful opportunities to explore new interests, develop real-world skills and build confidence in themselves and their futures.鈥�