First Groundbreaking Occurs at Lenoir County Youth Development Center

Ground has been broken! The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention held its first groundbreaking ceremony to announce the construction of a youth development center in Lenoir County.  Approximately one hundred community members, lawmakers, government officials, juvenile justice representatives, and school officials were in attendance.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at on September 8, 2006, directly across the street from the Dobbs Youth Development Center. 
  
The construction of this replacement facility will become the foundation for an effective, community-oriented juvenile justice system.  By providing youth throughout North Carolina with smaller, community-connected facilities, the Department will more effectively assist youth with the tools needed to become productive members of North Carolina’s communities.
 
The Lenoir County Youth Development Center will also offer a positive economic impact to the local community with the 32-bed facility providing approximately 62 jobs with an estimated annual operating budget of $3.2 million to the local community.

Construction is to be completed within the next 18 months