3 days ago
Blu Resource Center offers youth a bridge between school and real life
A new business in Sanford hopes to make an impact on young people by helping them bridge the gap between school and real life.
The BLU (Building Lifelong Understanding) Resource Center and its founder, Janet Stoudemire, will teach financial literacy, mental health awareness, emotional intelligence and more to those who come through the doors.
The BLU Resource Center recently held its ribbon cutting and gave the chance for city officials, Sanford Area Growth Alliance Chamber of Commerce members and the community to get a look around the facility, located at 505 Wall St.
Stoudemire is a graduate of the 2025 RISE (Real Investment in Sanford Entrepreneurs) program and was awarded a grant to help get her business off the ground.
The RISE program, a collaborative effort of the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center, Sanford Area Growth Alliance — Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Sanford Inc., offers participants the tools and support needed to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Graduates who open retail businesses in downtown Sanford are eligible to apply for start-up grants.
'This is an amazing place,' SAGA Chamber Director Susan Gomez said. 'Janet had a vision for a business that serves school-aged children and offers a safe and enriching environment for tutoring, homework assistance, mental health support and resources for parents. In order to pursue that vision, Janet applied to our RISE program.'
Gomez noted that at the end of the RISE classes, Stoudemire presented her business plan to the committee, which selects the grant winners. BLU and Stoudemire were selected to receive a $5,000 grant.
'We're proud to be here not only because she was a winner, but she has definitely given this community something that we need,' Gomez said.
Gomez said early childhood education is extremely important for the community.
'We are all here to grow and thrive,' she said. 'At some point, we have to create that new community and labor force — that starts with our children. Janet is providing that for them — giving them a safe space and the skills — to become better citizens as they grow.'
Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon also praised Stoudemire's vision and her work to create the center.
'We could not be anymore proud of both the fact that you had a vision and you brought that vision to life,' she said. 'You're doing it in a way that I can tell the community is responding in a truly powerful way. You are creating a space where we are creating a village to raise the children of our community in a powerful way.'
Salmon said children would be given the tools, love and support that they need to be successful.
'I know that coming through your doors are our future teachers, doctors, lawyers and our future mayors … they're going to come right through here,' she said. 'They're going to get the wisdom and the love that you provide here.'
Stoudemire said she is grateful for the support she has received along her journey to open the center.
'I honestly could not have gotten this all done by myself,' she said as she thanked family and friends.
The space the BLU Resource Center moved into had been vacant since 2020.
'The roof was leaking, the carpet was really bad. … it took a lot to get this going,' she said. 'I had a vision, and the vision was to come here and start this program. For the program, I'll be offering different services over summer break. We're going to be teaching financial literacy. We will have someone talk to the children about their mental health, or if they are being bullied. We will have somebody to give them the tools to cope.'
Stoudemire said other life skills offered would include things such as cooking and things people need to know every day.
'I'm here to bridge the gap between what school teaches and what real life is expecting of the children.'
Stoudemire is also working to get donations to help students start savings accounts and learn to handle money.
'We just want to build community,' she said. 'I don't want to be in competition with anybody, I just want us all to grow and succeed. There's enough kids out here for everybody.'
BLU Resource Center officially opened on May 27.
'I'm just excited about everything that is to come,' Stoudemire said.
For more information, contact the BLU Resource Center at 919-601-5568.
