WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Despite federal funding now passing, STARBASE Wilmington is temporarily closing its doors for operations starting next week.

Director Dave Glenn says he understands funding has been set aside for STARBASE, but it will take time to distribute the funds to states and sites for operations.

“The dedicated staff at STARBASE Wilmington will be furloughed and we will wait and see how operations resume,” Glenn said on the STARBASE Wilmington Facebook page.

Glenn says STARBASE is indebted to the community who supported them.

“We are grateful to the staff who came before us to make STARBASE Wilmington and STARBASE Fort Fisher such an impactful program,” Glenn said. “We are grateful for the teachers and administrators who believe in this program and make it possible for their students to attend. We are grateful for the students of this community, past and present, for whom we have been able to share just a little bit of our passion for the world of STEM around us.”

As for now, STARBASE will officially close its doors on March 31.

Copyright 2025 WECT. All rights reserved.