West Carroll Awarded $50K Perkins Reserve Grant to Launch 'The Roost Mercantile'

ATWOOD (July 1) — West Carroll Special School District (WCSSD) is one of 58 school districts across the state to be awarded Perkins Reserve Grant (PRG) funds for the 2026-27 school year, the Tennessee Department of Education announced on Wednesday. WCSSD received a grant totalling $50,000.

PRG funds are meant to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) statewide.

The West Carroll Special School District will use the awarded $50,000 to fund its upcoming CTE project, "The Roost Mercantile."

The Roost Mercantile, West Carroll Jr./Sr. High School's new storefront and coffee shop, is a student-led project that will directly benefit the school district's CTE Programs of Study.

Work-based learning students will produce goods including apparel, school spirit merchandise, 3D-printed and laser-engraved items, wooden craft projects, artistic renderings and ceramics, food products and coffee. Students will manage every aspect of the store — from creating the products to advertising, pricing and selling goods.

"This will create a business atmosphere where students can learn social skills, work with industry partners and foster an entrepreneurial spirit," said CTE Director Kristin Lindsey.

Lindsey plans to have the store operational around fall break this year. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days.

The PRG is a competitive grant opportunity made possible by the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), passed in 2018, which provides annual federal funding to support CTE programs nationwide.

Weakley County Schools also received PRG funds in the amount of $50,000.