FERRIDAY, La. – Ferriday has received approval to begin organizing a YMCA branch for the town — and YMCA and town representatives aren’t wasting any time in doing so.

&uot;We plan to offer basic programs at first, such as after school programs and (sports) teams,&uot; said Rodney Martin, chief executive officer of the Alexandria-based YMCA of Central Louisiana.

Martin plans to bring several members of that organization’s board of directors to Ferriday Sept. 20 to meet with members of a local committee being formed to steer the project.

Issues to be discussed at that meeting will include what specific programs could be offered, when they will be started, how much funding will need to be raised and from what sources funding could be obtained, Martin said.

&uot;After that, the next thing would be to start the process of screening applicants for jobs&uot; at the YMCA branch, he added.

If a Y branch is formed in Ferriday, the YMCA of Central Louisiana would act as its sponsor, said Mayor Glen McGlothin.

The branch would probably be located in the former Fourth Street Gym building, which the Concordia Parish School District agreed in early August to lease to the Town of Ferriday.

Concordia Parish Correctional Facility inmates are working to clean up the gym building inside and out.

Ferriday officials have also expressed interest in working with the Boys and Girls Club and Recreation District No. 1 to house recreational and educational programs for youth in the center.

McGlothin has also said that he would like to see part of the building used as a community center that would host educational programs, such as tutoring, and cultural events, such as concerts, for the public.