FEMA Awards Over $4M to MassDOT for COVID-19 Precautions

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BOSTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $4 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for the cost of disinfecting its facilities to continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The $4,057,253 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the department for the cost of providing electrostatic sprayers to perform facility disinfection at 25 locations between March 2020 and December 2021.
 
MassDOT also contracted for facility disinfection at all 25 locations, as well as the installation of plexiglass shields to prevent the spread of the virus.
 
"FEMA is pleased to be able to assist the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with these costs," said FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich. "Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation."
 
FEMA's Public Assistance program is an essential source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency.
 
So far, FEMA has provided more than $1.7 billion in Public Assistance grants to Massachusetts to reimburse the commonwealth for pandemic-related expenses.

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Dalton Youth Center Celebrates Refresh of Space

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Spectrum donated $5,000 to the the Youth Center.
DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Youth Center celebrated its refreshed building to better serve youth from across the county.
 
On Wednesday, parents and children, public officials like state Rep. Leigh Davis, and more gathered at the center's building at 27 South Carson Ave. to view the new updates.
 
Executive Director Ariana Massery, who started her role in January, welcomed the public and thanked everyone for attending and those who helped bring the more than 100-year-old building to what it is today.
 
"This building and this organization has existed in many ways to serve youth since 1909, and we have recently, in the last six months, made an investment to bring things to life, both from a programmatic standpoint and from a facility standpoint," she said.
 
The center, part of the nonprofit Community Recreation Association, got new paint, an updated gaming room with new furniture, a new gym floor, a refreshed kitchen with new appliances, and Smartboards and other technology to support tutoring.
 
It also celebrated programming through new partnerships with Berkshire Music School, Berkshire Innovation Center, and the Becket Arts Center. Youth will be able to learn robotics, how to write music, and more.
 
The center also partners with Berkshire Bounty to provide healthier snacks.
 
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