B.D. Lee Elementary School students will benefit from a $300,000 federal grant awarded Monday for a community learning center.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate received a 21st Century grant totalling $299,700. The grant will be used by the club to establish afterschool programs at B.D. Lee Elementary and schools in Spartanburg District 6.

The state awarded a total of 47 21st Century grants this year worth a total of $7 million to schools, churches and community agencies. The grants are funded through the federal No Child Left Behind law and are awarded through a competitive process.

The Boys and Girls Club plans to offer academic, artistic and cultural activities to B.D. Lee Elementary students when school is not in session, area director Vance Hammond said. The club received a 21st Century grant last year to start a similar program at Mary Bramlett Elementary.

An average of 95 Mary Bramlett Elementary students participated in the afterschool program during the first year.

The grant will allow the club to serve a similar number of students at B.D. Lee Elementary this school year. The grant provides funding so the club can provide technology, health, safety activities and education programs.

"We are doing everything we can to make a difference in the lives of youth. We want to make a positive impact so these youth can be all they can be," Hammond said. "This is a start-up grant that will provide us with the funds to begin a community learning center at B.D. Lee Elementary. We see this as a wonderful resource in our community that will allow our youth to become better students and better citizens."

Hammond estimated the Boys and Girls Club is serving 80 students a day in its programs this summer. Club members have enjoyed the free meals in the district's summer food program.

"The district's summer food program has been awesome. The kids are loving it," Hammond said. "We have a number of B.D. Lee Elementary students who are participating in our programs this summer. The new grant will allow us to take our afterschool program to the next level by providing services to benefit the kids."