Berkshire South Sees $1M Earmark for Expansion
 |
| Jenise Lucey presents blueprints of the project. |
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— The Berkshire South Regional Community Center was earmarked for more than $1 million to expand its north wing.
On Thursday, Congressman Richard Neal sat with Executive Director Jenise Lucey, board members, and other staff at the center to see how those dollars will help expand childcare, among other areas. He announced a $1,015,000 earmark for the project.
"As you can see, we are really, really busy and really busting at the seams," Lucey said while showing the congressman plans.
"So your advocacy to make this happen, so that we can really move on to the next steps and serve our community, couldn't be better timed, and we're just so grateful for your support."
The 6,000-square-foot addition will add about 20 spaces for infant and toddler care and increase the 40,000-square-foot building by about 15 percent. It will also allow BCRCC to expand its fitness center, upgrade its HVAC system, and relocate administrative offices.
BCRCC sees about 200,000 visitors per year and is licensed to welcome 100 summer campers, running a nine-week program during working hours. Childcare programming runs year-round, with the center serving about 240 youth annually.
Open since 2002, the community center will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary. The allocation was made through Congressionally Directed Spending from the Rural Housing Service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Neal said that childcare was one of the biggest issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"And then one of the reasons that a lot of women did not re-enter the workforce was because they had to choose between caring for the child and going back to work," he added.
"And the cost was such that it didn't work."
Lucey explained that there have been difficulties across the sector, such as the closure of the Lenox Children’s Center in June, and some other local programs struggling financially or running into snags.
The north wing expansion was dreamt up around 2010. In the meantime, before work is done, BCRCC had its arts and crafts room licensed for toddler care.
"The idea is that this northern part of the property, the north wing, would be expanded to increase the fitness center space, to create another classroom space, and to create an administrative space," Lucey said while showing blueprints to Neal.
"…So ultimately, this space back here, where all these offices are, will move over to this space up in the north part of the building, and this whole area will then become the infant and toddler and preschool childcare center."
The project is expected to cost about $3.5 million, and she said this $1 million will help be a catalyst for additional support. Groundbreaking is expected in the fall of 2027 or early 2028.
Tags: earmarks, expansion, Neal,
