(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislator Seth I. Koslow (D – Merrick) and his colleagues in the Legislature’s Minority Caucus voted today to allocate $950,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward the Nassau County Police Athletic League (NCPAL) in support of their countywide youth enrichment programming and services.
The mission of NCPAL, which currently operates more than three dozen local clubs including its divisions in Bellmore and Merrick, is to “operate youth clubs and provide sports, crafts, educational and other programs of a team and individual nature for all boys and girls in Nassau County” with the intent of keeping kids off the streets and fostering positive interactions between police officers and youth.
The funding was drawn from $15 million in federally allocated ARPA money that was set aside by the Legislature for various not-for-profit organizations and special districts that deliver ARPA-approved services. The creation of this fund was an outgrowth of extensive Minority Caucus efforts to allocate ARPA resources for the intended purposes of bolstering programs that addressed critical needs arising from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a father and a youth sports coach myself, I know firsthand how structured and supervised activities like the ones provided by the Nassau PAL can guide our youth to positive outcomes in their lives,” Legislator Koslow said. “I was proud to support today’s action, and I implore my colleagues to seek out additional opportunities that will empower all communities, especially those lacking accessible youth programs.”