Boys & Girls Club receives $190K grant

Date: 5/5/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



CHICOPEE -- Thanks to President Barack Obama's federal stimulus package, the Boys & Girls Club on Meadow Street will soon be receiving some much needed repairs.

In February 2008, the club suffered from significant water damage due to leaks in the roof that covers the original building. While the roof was being assessed, it was discovered that the four heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units on the roof were in need of replacing as well.

A $190,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was awarded to the club to begin these necessary repairs and upgrades.

The CDBG program is a flexible one that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The CDBG program, which began in 1974, is one of the longest continuously run programs at Housing and Urban Development. The program provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1,180 general units of local government and states.

"This is a pretty overwhelming day for us," Elizabeth Daly, executive director of the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club, said as Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Michael Bissonnette presented the funds. "The roof on our original building is over 25 years old, with leaks in just about every part of the original building. The mayor said, 'Let me see what we can do.'"

She later added that the leaks have caused floors to be totally destroyed and ripped up, along with carpeting and ceiling tiles.

Morris Roofing, which installed the original roof on the building, will be putting on the new roof as well.

"It's all about the kids," Bissonnette stated. "The importance of something like this in a neighborhood of low income kids cannot be underestimated. They need a safe place to play and learn. When kids come to this facility, it needs to be a place they can count on."

Shane Brooks, City Council Vice-President and a member of the club's Board of Directors, noted that approximately 1,200 children use the club, mostly after school.

Neal spoke on the many years he spent at the Springfield Boys & Girls Club and said he didn't know what he would have done without it.

"I voted in favor of the stimulus package," Neal stated. "This is precisely what the money is intended for."

Daly told Reminder Publications that the club is currently in the middle of a capital campaign and that the club was "stymied" about what to do when they couldn't go forward with the scheduled renovations, due to lack of funding.

"Without funds, we would've had to go back to our donors and ask more of them," she said.

Elaine Labbe, President of the Board of Directors for the club, explained that extra grants and monies are being sought so there is adequate funding for the club and so no programs will have to be lost.

Frank Laflamme, a member of the Board of Directors, noted that with the CDBG, funds can be put into other programs for children.

The next fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club will be a golf tournament on June 3. For more information on the tournament, contact the club at 592-6707.