After an eight year wait, Sunday marked a monumental step for the youth of Chapel Hill.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America finally broke ground on its newest 107 Johnson St. location Sunday evening.
About 50 people attended the ceremony, a majority of whom made a direct contribution to bringing the location to Chapel Hill.
Those in attendance said they were excited for the start of a community resource that will bring after school, sports and leadership programs to local kids.
But Chapel Hill Town Council member Donna Bell said the process for getting the Boys and Girls Clubs to Chapel Hill has been long and trying.
“They put in the application for the club in November 2004,” Bell said. “It is now coming together, and this is the next step.”
The club, which will be the first in Orange County, will assist local youth that are experiencing financial trouble.
The ultimate goal of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America is to develop children into more productive members of society.
Mashallah Salaam, a 16-year-old Chapel Hill resident, said she was excited about the new group.