By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The YMCA of Chilton County has received a $10,000 grant from the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund to add a heating and cooling system for the gym.

In January, the Alabama Child Care standards changed to require all space used in programs to maintain a certain temperature.

“When it is very, very cold or very, very hot, our gym does not maintain those temperatures,” YMCA director Lori Patterson said.

Having a heating and cooling system for the gym that will maintain temperature will increase the number of children the YMCA can serve.

“It will help us accommodate more children at summer camp and after school,” Patterson said.

How many children can be served in a program under the state guidelines is determined by square footage. Patterson said before the upgrades, the facility could not include the gym in the total.

“It means a lot to our entire community to get support from foundations like this, so that we can serve more kids,” YMCA board member Bryan Petty said. “We really appreciate them giving us this grant.”

Van Forrester of Alabama Power said the Trust focuses on funding needs related to energy efficiency.

“It started in 1992, since then they have helped over 100,000 households and groups,” Forrester said. “They have given more than $30 million.”

The Trust funds are handled by the Alabama Power Foundation.

“At this point, it should be the largest foundation in the state,” Forrester said.

The board reviews grant applications and makes the decision on what to fund.

Last year, 150 children registered for the YMCA summer camp. Through a partnership with Clanton Elementary School, the YMCA serves an average of 120 students with afterschool activities.