West Springfield Boys and Girls Club awarded $250,000 for renovations

The West Springfield Boys and Girls Club was recently awarded $250,000 from the Baker-Polito Administration and the Children’s Investment Fund (CIF), with its affiliate the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). Altogether, these organizations awarded $7.5 million in Early Education and Out of School Time Fund (EEOST) capital improvement grants to 36 organizations across the state of Massachusetts. These awards are to be utilized for renovations on childcare facilities that serve primarily low-income families.

Through a press release provided by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the grants to child care centers and out-of-school time programs range from $100,000 to $250,000. Therefore, the Boys and Girls Club received the most aid possible.

With these grants, the focus was on providing necessary funds and addressing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The EEOST grants are financed through the state’s capital budget and provide matching funds that leverage private investment,” read the press release.

Dan D’Angelo, executive director of the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club, said they applied for this capital improvement grant back in December. On July 9, they were notified that their grant was accepted and awarded. Through his understanding, D’Angelo believes that there were over 100 applications across the state.

To utilize this grant, D’Angelo said they began with the renovation of the Boys and Girls Club lobby.

He explained that this project is two fold: “One is to open up more space – more space to congregate and for our families – and the second part is security of the building.”

The club has installed security cameras both inside and outside of the building. D’Angelo said the security system will protect everyone, especially their younger population, i.e. preschoolers. He explained that to get into the preschool, you must know someone or show a proof of I.D. These doors are always locked, however, the entire building will now be more secure.

The other area of renovation addresses the “dead areas,” as described by D’Angelo. The dead areas include the showers and locker rooms that are no longer utilized.

“All programs are licensed to the EEC (Department of Early Education and Care),” said D’Angelo. With this, the policy and procedures are that there must be one toilet per 20 kids. In an effort to bring in more kids, the Boys and Girls Club decided to expand their facilities.

In addition, there will be a new office and program space constructed, along with a steam and art program. D’Angelo said that this phase of renovations will cost about $565,000.

“When we applied in December, we were just about to go out and bid and start the process,” explained D’Angelo. Renovations began in February and are predicted to be completed within a few weeks.

Currently, the lobby and program space is being utilized.

“It’s worked out well,” claimed D’Angelo. “We’re thrilled for the new program space and we’re proud of the lobby. It’s welcoming and people feel safe.”

When the club closed for four months during the pandemic, D’Angelo said that all of the renovations they had in place were gone, along with the finances and rainy day funds.

“When we were awarded this grant, it finished off a lot of the project,” he said.

D’Angelo expressed his gratitude to Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

Although it’s been a long time coming, D’Angelo said, “It’s more than worth the wait.”

SourceThe Reminder (https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/west-springfield/west-springfield-boys-and-girls-club-awarded-25000/)

Lt. Governor Announces State Grants for Child Care Centers in East Boston

Last Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Early Education and Care Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy stopped by the East Boston Social Centers (EBSC) in Central Square for a tour, and to announce $7.5 million in Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund (EEOST) capital improvement grants to 36 organizations to renovate childcare facilities that serve primarily low-income families like EBSC.

Polito said the Baker-Polito Administration teamed up with the Children’s Investment Fund (CIF) and its affiliate the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) for the $227,000 in grant money towards the Social Centers. EBSC and the other thirty-five recipients all received grants between $100,000 to $250,000 to provide capital funding needed to address health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.

“These awards announced today – which mark the largest total amount awarded since the inception of the EEOST grants – will improve child care programs across the state,” said Polito last week at the Social Centers. “Now more than ever, as families return to workplaces, investments in early education and care settings are vital to provide necessary resources to children and their families through high-quality early childhood education and out-of-school time programs.”

The capital grants will help continue to support major renovation and construction projects at EBSC and improve the quality of learning environments for the over 300 children they serve.

The Social Centers previously received an EEOST grant last July and EBSC Executive Director Justin Pasquariello was excited to show Polito how the previous round of funding helped improve the Social Centers’ facilities. He also thanked the Lieutenant Governor for continuing to support EBSC’s capital improvements with the latest round of funding.

“We at the East Boston Social Centers were honored to host Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy for a tour of our early education and school age programs,” said Pasquariello. “We were grateful to show them the high-quality, safe facilities the EEOST grant has funded at the East Boston Social Centers. The Commonwealth’s recognition of the increased cost of providing high-quality, safe care during the COVID pandemic has been essential for our ability to be fully open for early education, school age programs, and full-day in-person remote learning support from July 2020. Their investments in our facilities, commitment to paying parent fees, additional grants, and investments in our workforce are critical as our essential sector continues to meet the needs of children and families across the commonwealth.”

The Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grants are financed through the state’s capital budget and provide matching funds that leverage private investment. More than $200 million in public and private investments have been leveraged throughout the life of the grant program. The Baker-Polito Administration’s FY21 Capital Budget Plan included funding for the Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grant program.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in high-quality, safe, healthy, and joyous education environments,” said Commissioner Aigner-Treworgy at last week’s event. “Well-designed classrooms and play spaces can greatly enhance early learning and support children to grow and thrive.”

In a statement after the event Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration is committed to supporting childcare providers like the Social Centers who have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to care for children and support families returning to work.

“Since the start of this grant program, we’ve invested more than $39.2 million in capital funding at childcare programs that impact the learning experiences of more than 9,000 children in communities across Massachusetts,” he said.

SourceEast Boston Times- Free Press

Early education programs get financial boost from state

The state has awarded $7.5 million in Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund (EEOST) capital improvement grants to thirty-six organizations across the state to renovate childcare facilities that serve primarily low-income families.

The Baker-Polito Administration and the Children’s Investment Fund (CIF), with its affiliate the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) is providing grants to child care centers and out-of-school time programs range from $100,000-$250,000. This year the emphasis shifted to provide capital funding needed to address health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, including major renovation and construction projects at facilities.

“Our Administration is pleased to support childcare providers across the Commonwealth who have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to care for children and support families returning to work,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Since the start of this grant program, we’ve invested more than $39.2 million in capital funding at childcare programs that impact the learning experiences of more than 9,000 children in communities across Massachusetts.”

The Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grants are financed through the state’s capital budget and provide matching funds that leverage private investment. The Baker-Polito Administration’s FY21 Capital Budget Plan included funding for the Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grant program.

The following organizations received grants:

Project Location	Applicant	Funding
Beverly	Beverly Children’s Learning Center	$207,000
Boston	Kwong Kow Chinese School	$146,000
Boston	United South End Settlements	$250,000
Brockton	Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro South	$177,000
Brockton	Fuller Arts & Sciences dba Westfield Child Center	$115,000
Brockton	Brockton Day Nursery	$131,000
Brockton	Old Colony YMCA	$247,000
Dorchester	Catholic Charities Yawkey Child Care Center	$179,000
Dorchester	Greenwood Shalom Outreach Community, Inc.	$250,000
Dudley	Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley	$204,000
East Boston	East Boston Social Centers	$227,000
Framingham	SMOC	$250,000
Gloucester	Pathways for Children	$250,000
Haverhill	YMCA of the North Shore (Haverhill YMCA)	$242,000
Holyoke	Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke	$250,000
Holyoke	Holyoke YMCA	$200,000
Lawrence	Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc. (d.b.a. The Community Group)	$102,000
Lawrence	YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts	$243,000
Lynn	YMCA of Metro North	$186,000
Lynn	Boys and Girls Club of Lynn	$250,000
Nantucket	Small Friends on Nantucket	$129,000
New Bedford	PACE	$250,000
New Bedford	YMCA Southcoast	$250,000
New Bedford	West End Day Nursery	$250,000
North Adams	Child Care of the Berkshires	$207,000
Revere	For Kids Only Afterschool	$247,000
Roxbury	Hattie B. Cooper Community Center	$250,000
Roxbury	Paige Academy	$250,000
Roxbury	YMCA of Greater Boston	$221,000
Somerville	Elizabeth Peabody House Association	$205,000
Springfield	Springfield Day Nursery (d.b.a Square One)	$157,000
Stoneham	Boys and Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield	$225,000
Waltham	Waltham Boys and Girls Club	$105,000
West Springfield	West Springfield Boys and Girls Club	$250,000
Whitinsville	George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association (d.b.a. The Whitin Community Center)	$250,000
Worcester	YWCA of Central Massachusetts	$142,000

SourceWWLP.com

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $7.5 Million to Early Education Programs

The Baker-Polito Administration and the Children’s Investment Fund (CIF), with its affiliate the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), awarded $7.5 million in Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund (EEOST) capital improvement grants to thirty-six organizations to renovate childcare facilities that serve primarily low-income families. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito made the announcement today at East Boston Social Centers, a child care provider in East Boston that serves more than 300 children.

The grants to child care centers and out-of-school time programs range from $100,000-$250,000, and this year the emphasis shifted to provide capital funding needed to address health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.

The capital grants support major renovation and construction projects at early education and out-of-school time facilities to improve the quality of learning environments for children in Massachusetts.

“These awards announced today – which mark the largest total amount awarded since the inception of the EEOST grants – will improve child care programs across the state,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Now more than ever, as families return to workplaces, investments in early education and care settings are vital to provide necessary resources to children and their families through high-quality early childhood education and out-of-school time programs.”

EEOST was designed to support the learning and healthy development of young children, many of whom spend more than 40 hours a week in early learning and after-school settings. Approximately 80% of the children in EEOST-funded programs are from low-income families. EEOST grants transform these learning environments so that children have safe, developmentally appropriate spaces.

“With these critical investments, we can help child care providers, serving low-income communities, improve their facilities in order to boost quality and provide young learners with resources to succeed in the classroom and beyond,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “We are pleased to provide these critical resources necessary to sustain the Commonwealth’s essential childcare infrastructure.”

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in high-quality, safe, healthy, and joyous education environments,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy. “Well-designed classrooms and play spaces can greatly enhance early learning and support children to grow and thrive.”

“This year’s grants will reach five times as many providers as last year,” said Theresa Jordan, Director of the Children’s Investment Fund, an affiliate of CEDAC. “It is funding critical improvements needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the enormous effort undertaken by child care providers over the past year to create safe environments for children.”

The following organizations received grants:

Project Location	Applicant	Funding
Beverly	Beverly Children’s Learning Center	$207,000
Boston	Kwong Kow Chinese School	$146,000
Boston	United South End Settlements	$250,000
Brockton	Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro South	$177,000
Brockton	Fuller Arts & Sciences dba Westfield Child Center	$115,000
Brockton	Brockton Day Nursery	$131,000
Brockton	Old Colony YMCA	$247,000
Dorchester	Catholic Charities Yawkey Child Care Center	$179,000
Dorchester	Greenwood Shalom Outreach Community, Inc.	$250,000
Dudley	Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley	$204,000
East Boston	East Boston Social Centers	$227,000
Framingham	SMOC	$250,000
Gloucester	Pathways for Children	$250,000
Haverhill	YMCA of the North Shore (Haverhill YMCA)	$242,000
Holyoke	Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke	$250,000
Holyoke	Holyoke YMCA	$200,000
Lawrence	Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc. (d.b.a. The Community Group)	$102,000
Lawrence	YWCA of Northeastern Massachusetts	$243,000
Lynn	YMCA of Metro North	$186,000
Lynn	Boys and Girls Club of Lynn	$250,000
Nantucket	Small Friends on Nantucket	$129,000
New Bedford	PACE	$250,000
New Bedford	YMCA Southcoast	$250,000
New Bedford	West End Day Nursery	$250,000
North Adams	Child Care of the Berkshires	$207,000
Revere	For Kids Only Afterschool	$247,000
Roxbury	Hattie B. Cooper Community Center	$250,000
Roxbury	Paige Academy	$250,000
Roxbury	YMCA of Greater Boston	$221,000
Somerville	Elizabeth Peabody House Association	$205,000
Springfield	Springfield Day Nursery (d.b.a Square One)	$157,000
Stoneham	Boys and Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield	$225,000
Waltham	Waltham Boys and Girls Club	$105,000
West Springfield	West Springfield Boys and Girls Club	$250,000
Whitinsville	George Marston Whitin Memorial Community Association (d.b.a. The Whitin Community Center)	$250,000
Worcester	YWCA of Central Massachusetts	$142,000

All the programs receiving a grant award serve publicly subsidized families and have demonstrated financial need. All the grantees are non-profit corporations or organizations in which a non-profit corporation has a controlling interest. The Department of Early Education and Care partners with CEDAC’s affiliate, the Children’s Investment Fund, to administer the grants.

###

SourceMass.gov

Here’s how the YMCA plans to use a $1 million grant to improve child care in Brockton

BROCKTON — The Old Colony YMCA plans to use a $1 million state grant to renovate child care space in the city to better serve the community and invest in the downtown.

“It’s a win-win all the way around,” said CEO and President Vinnie Marturano.

The renovation project will be at the youth division building at 465 Main St., which is down the street from the city’s central branch.

Improvements will be made in the lower portion of the building to create more space and repurpose underused areas.

Kim Moran, senior vice president of child development and protection for Old Colony YMCA, said the project will add another classroom, create an open indoor place space, update bathroom facilities and add more office space.

Accessibility improvements and electric and ventilation system upgrades will be done during the renovation, Marturano said.

The classrooms in the basement of the Old Colony YMCA in brockton pictured on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at 465 Main St are going to be renovated as part of the grant the YMC received.

The youth division building is used for before- and after-school programs for school-aged children. Now it is used for full-day remote learning, Moran said.

In Brockton, the YMCA has another space at Centre Street for students to participate in remote learning. There is also programming for students learning in a hybrid model in districts in the other communities the organization serves.

“We’re trying to fill the need for parents,” she said. “It’s about where they need us the most.”

The grant helps nonprofit organizations serving primarily low-income families and communities renovate or build new child care facilities.

Marturano said the YMCA applied to the competitive grant previously, and this year it was successful. The organization was one of seven organizations from around the state selected.

The entire project will cost about $2.4 million, so the YMCA will need to raise money to make up the rest of the costs, he said.

The small pool that is no longer in use at the Old Colony YMCA child care center pictured on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at 465 Main St. in Brockton is going to be filled in to make room for new classrooms, bathrooms and an indoor play space.

Pre-pandemic, child care represented 25 percent of Old Colony YMCA’s operating revenue, Marturano said. It had the licensed capacity to care for 2,800 kids at 48 different sites around the South Shore.

The number of children the organization can care for has been reduced to meet state requirements aimed to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

This year, people have realized how important and critical child care is to families and the economic system, he said.

“We continue to follow the crisis in child care that has been significantly heightened during the pandemic situation we all find ourselves in,” Marturano said.

The grant also helps the YMCA show its commitment to Brockton and development in downtown, he said.

The entrance of the Old Colony YMCA child care center pictured on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at 465 Main St. in Brockton will be moving to the side of the building after renovations. There will be a new handicap ramp as well as an elevator that goes to all floors including the basement.

Marturano said the city and state have shown a similar commitment to bringing more proactive development to Main Street near the Brockton central branch.

Upgrading the child division building is a way to invest in downtown and provide infrastructure to serve the community, he said.

Marturano is hopeful that this will lead to other investment in the area.

SourceThe Enterprise

Guild of St. Agnes will use $1M state grant to run daycare center in Creative Hub

Childcare nonprofit Guild of St. Agnes will run a daycare center as a future tenant of the Creative Hub Community Arts Center Worcester, powered by a $1-million grant from the Early Education and Out-of-School Time grant program, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care announced on Thursday.

The Guild will create a new early learning program at Creative Hub, providing an additional 88 toddler and preschool slots, according to DEEC. Creative Hub is a $14.4-million arts and creative complex being developed in an old Boys Club at 2 Ionic Ave. in Worcester.

“As Creative Hub’s mission is to provide accessible and equitable space for our community, we realized that childcare is a perfect fit for our programming,” Laura Marotta, Creative Hub’s executive director, said in an interview with WBJ. “Not only will Main South and Worcester families (of all income levels) have access to subsidized and safe childcare, but they will also have access to the rest of the arts programming that will be happening in the building.”

Creative Hub will aim to provide comprehensive support to the community, Marotta said, which includes providing affordable childcare.

“We are more than blessed to have the Guild as a future tenant of Creative Hub Community Arts Center … and their presence will only enhance our programs and plans for the building, which still includes studio space for artists, classroom space, event space that will host cultural, musical, and dance programs, a makerspace, and more,” she said.

SourceWorcester Business Journal

Early education funds to expand facilities, increase child care capacity essential in public health crisis (Editorial)

In 2018, the reauthorization of the Early Education and Out-of-School Time Capital Fund (EEOST) in the state’s housing bond bill was important news. There was a need for sustained targeted improvements in Massachusetts early education programs. Since its original passage in 2013, the Department of Early Education and Care and the Children’s Investment Fund at the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation have awarded four rounds of EEOST Capital Funds grants that provided $19 million to 25 agencies across the state. Beneficiaries included, $1 million in 2018 to Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start, and $1 million in 2015 to the Valley Opportunity Council in Chicopee.

The recent Baker-Polito administration announcement of an additional $6.5 million in EEOST grant funding to seven organizations will allow renovations and expansions of childcare facilities that serve mostly low-income children. This is welcome news in an environment where facilities must meet new standards due to COVID, and parents experience waiting lists for childcare.

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many early childhood education providers are struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable families and communities. It is gratifying to be able to announce that these seven programs will receive the necessary funding to create high-quality, safe and healthy learning environments,” said Theresa Jordan, director of the Children’s Investment Fund, an affiliate of CEDAC.

One of the recent recipients was a $1 million grant to the Boys and Girls Club of greater Westfield. The facility plans to build an addition to expand its out-of-time program and build a new preschool classroom.

According to data from 2018, around 74% of children under the age of 6 have both parents in the workforce. And during COVID, providing children with a safe out-of-school time place has become increasingly challenging. While Massachusetts childcare system is primarily a private funding system, this funding fills a gap that allows facilities such as the Westfield Boys and Girls club to begin expanding immediately and offer more opportunities to those families in dire need.

SourceMassLive

Baker Announces Funds for Early Education Programs

HYANNIS – Governor Charlie Baker and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation recently announced $6.5 million in Early Education and Out-of-School Time grant funding.

The funding has been awarded to seven organizations to help them renovate childcare facilities that serve low-income children.

“We are grateful to the educators and childcare providers statewide who have worked tirelessly to adapt over the last several months as we continued to combat the COVID-19 public health crisis,” said Baker in a statement.

“Through these grants, we are able to make improvements to child care programs that boost the quality of early education and care and provide families in communities throughout the Commonwealth with the resources necessary for success in the classroom and beyond.”

Early childhood education programs could receive awards up to $1 million for major capital projects during the FY20 grant funding round.

Organizations who received FY20 EEOST awards include Berkshire Family YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Community Action Incorporated, East Boston Social Centers, Guild of St. Agnes, Old Colony YMCA and South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC).

SourceCapeCod.com

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield gets $1 million grant to expand facility

SourceMassLive

Guild of St. Agnes child care center, to be built at old Worcester Boys & Girls Club, gets $1M grant

WORCESTER – A day care center for low-income children to be built in the former Boys & Girls Club on Ionic Avenue and run by the Guild of St. Agnes received a $1 million state grant Thursday.

“This is terrific,” said Edward P. Madaus, the Guild’s executive director, expressing gratitude to Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Gov. Charlie Baker for “seeing the need.”

The new center will be in the long-vacant 30,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club building, to be reshaped into a $14.4 million creative arts complex, Creative Hub Worcester Arts Center. The project is expected to be completed in 2022

The Baker-Polito administration and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp. announced a series of early education grants on Thursday.

The Guild of St. Agnes project will expand its child care capacity, with 88 additional toddler and preschool slots.

“There aren’t a lot of child care facilities in Main South. We thought we would be servicing a clientele that needs more child care down there,” Madaus said.

The Guild received a similar grant for $700,000 three years ago to purchase a building at 58 Bigelow St. in Webster to operate a child care center.

The Guild of St. Agnes, started in 1913 by a group of parishioners at Ascension Church on Vernon Street, operates 11 child care centers in Worcester County (six in the city), and an additional six in the Worcester Public Schools. Before the pandemic, the centers served about 1,700 children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. The number is now about 1,300. The centers in the schools are currently closed.

The $1 million state grant announced Thursday is part of $6.5 million in Early Education and Out-of-School Time funding awarded to seven organizations. The capital improvement grants help nonprofit center-based child care programs renovate or build high-quality child care facilities that serve mostly low-income families. The grants are managed by the Children’s Investment Fund and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

“We are grateful to the educators and child care providers statewide who have worked tirelessly to adapt over the last several months as we continue to combat the COVID-19 public health crisis,” Baker said in the announcement. “Through these grants, we are able to make improvements to child care programs that boost the quality of early education and care and provide families in communities throughout the commonwealth with the resources necessary for success in the classroom and beyond.”

SourceTelegram & Gazette