ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — The future is looking bright for a nonprofit providing social, academic and career-building services to girls in Volusia and Flagler counties after hurricanes severely damaged its previous location.
Since 1996, Pace Center for Girls in Volusia-Flagler has served more than 2,500 girls. It was formerly Rigby Elementary School that served Black students in Ormond Beach.
And now, big changes are coming for Pace Center for Girls Volusia-Flagler. The center is set to open a new school in Ormond Beach in 2026.
The old location at Rigby Elementary School suffered damage from hurricanes Ian and Milton that left the nonprofit looking at other locations.
“We experienced significant roof damage during Ian that displaced us for eight months. Even though the roof repairs were remediated after Ian, when Milton came, we experienced the same kind of experience of water coming down through some parts of the roof that weren’t quite right I guess,” Sheila Jordan, executive director at Pace Center for Girls Volusia-Flagler said.
Jordan said they asked the Volusia County Council for $3 million to help.
“This will help us wrap-up our capital campaign which will allow us to build a brand new 12,000-square-foot facility for girls in Volusia-Flagler counties,” Jordan said.
Others have also provided funds to the new location:
- State of Florida: $2,250,000
- Flagler County: $250,000
- City of Daytona Beach: $250,000
Jordan says Pace Center for Girls is a day center for girls where they can get academic services, counseling, life skills training, and career preparation.
The Pace Center for Girls Volusia-Flagler is currently located at 208 Central Ave., Ormond Beach, formerly home to Rigby Elementary School, which used to be Ormond Beach's school for Black students.
“I feel privileged to share the girls’ stories and introduce people really to an incredible organization,” Jordan said.
In the meantime, students are looking to the future with hope.
“I’m focused on my goals, and what I need to do in order to graduate this year,” Pace student Ta’tyana said.
Ta’tyana wants to be an ultrasound tech.
She believes the new school will be beneficial to girls because this place helped her in more ways than one.
“It needs a lot of maintenance, better classrooms, better spaces for the girls,” Ta’tyana said.
The spot the nonprofit is currently operating at is on the national register of historic places.
As for the location, groundbreaking for the new site is estimated to happen in late 2025.
“I’m excited to come to this community because we’ll grow with the community. I think there will be opportunity to provide girls access to our services that might be more challenging for them to get to,” Jordan said.
In addition to the Volusia County Council providing money, community partners helped pitch in as well such as the state of Florida, City of Daytona Beach, Flagler County Council, and more.
