History of High Springs Community Development Corporation The citizens of High Springs have developed a history of effective collaboration to address the needs of our community. High Springs Community Development Corporation is the result of more than a decade of community organizing and volunteerism to support a better life for all residents. Through the years this organization has developed and adapted to address the changing needs of the community. This is a brief history of how High Springs CDC got to where it is today. Substance Abuse Prevention Council: In 1993 the City of High Springs was selected to participate in a Substance Abuse Prevention project funded through the federal Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and admnistered by Santa Fe Community College. During this three-year project, our community received assistance in organizing a collaborative effort to identify and address substance abuse risk factors in our community. The High Springs Substance Abuse Prevention Council implemented a number of successful projects and as a group became skilled at identifying and addressing community needs. Through the course of the CSAP project, it became clear that one of High Springs' most pressing needs was for after-school recreation opportunities for middle school students. High Springs Youth Services, Inc.: At the time there were no supervised recreational options for children during the afternoon hours, and working parents were not available to transport their children to activities outside of town. Three middle school students spearheaded the formation of theHigh Springs Youth Center by writing letters to the editor, addressing the High Springs City Commission and forming a committee to request a supervised space for children to gather after school. The Substance Abuse Prevention Council joined this effort and in 1996 the High Springs Youth Center opened. The City donated building and playground space, and volunteers from the community helped to refurbish and equip the Center. Concrete was donated to pour a basketball court with volunteer labor. In 1998 the Youth Center won the Carter Award from the State of Florida Department of Children and Families as an effective, grassroots project that contributed to a safe and healthy community. The Center operated with parents volunteering as supervisors until the Boys and Girls Club of Gainesville contracted with the City to take over administration and operations in 2000. In December 2001, the Boys and Girls Club announced that it would not renew its contract with the City due to diminished funding. Parents and community members mobilized quickly to keep this important resource operating. A nonprofit corporation, High Springs Youth Services, Inc. was formed with a volunteer Board of Directors experienced in community-driven projects. Many of the original Substance Abuse Prevention Council members served on the Youth Services Board or volunteered at the Youth Center. High Springs Youth Services, Inc. was successful in mobilizing funding from Alachua County, the City of High Springs, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Keeping Kids Drug Free Foundation and numerous corporate and individual donors. At its peak, the Youth Center served 70 children each day with safe, supervised after-school activities. Changing Needs lead to CDC: By 2005, declining Youth Center participation and feedback from parents told us that there was no longer a perceived need for after-school activities, and the Youth Center Board began to seek new challenges. As a successfully funded nonprofit agency, HSYS had developed a track record of responsible grants administration that made it attractive to funders. The Board decided to leverage this reputation and its experience serving the community to address a new set of community needs. In the Spring of 2005 the corporate name was changed to High Springs Development Corporation to reflect this expanded mission. | 
