NATCHEZ &045;&045; A $100,000 grant the Sadie V. Thompson School Alumni Foundation has received could help keep the building from raining on the inside in the future.

The board of the Department of Archives and History approved the grant Friday and has said the money can be used for roof repairs.

The foundation had originally applied for $400,000 to renovate the gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria of the building, which served as a high school for black students before integration.

But with just the $100,000, the foundation could still fix the building’s roof as well as some water damage from the leaks.

The foundation raise enough money for a 20 percent match for the grant.

Such repairs are needed to keep the building, which now houses the Boys & Girls Club of the Miss-Lou, in good condition and help preserve a historic landmark.

&uot;We got that (historic landmark) designation for the building at the same time we got the grant,&uot; said state Rep. Phillip West, D-Natchez, who coordinated the grant application.

&uot;This is a community facility for everybody,&uot; West said.

And with the help of such grant funds, he added, &uot;we have the opportunity to utilize this historic facility for years to come.&uot;

For her part, Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Faye Minor said she and other club supporters were &uot;elated&uot; to hear the news of the grant award.

&uot;We can’t do further renovations when the roof is leaking,&uot; Minor said, adding that with the ongoing leaks, the former school’s stage area couldn’t be used.

&uot;Everybody’s excited, including the kids.&uot;