U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Malden) visited the Springfield Jewish Community Center to see how a $1 million earmark from the federal government is being utilized. Markey was joined by other delegates on the trip.
Reminder Publishing photos by Ryan Feyre
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Malden) and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) joined state delegates for a tour of the Springfield Jewish Community Center on Aug. 14.
The scheduled visit comes a year-and-a-half after the two pols and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) secured more than $10 million in federal funding for five community-based projects in the Pioneer Valley.
The funds, labeled as Congressionally Directed Spending, were part of the fiscal year 2024 funding package, and included $1 million for facility renovation and expansion of early childhood and K-8 spaces at the JCC.
Markey, Neal and state legislators were on tap to see how that money is being used at the center.
“Congressman Neal, Senator Warren and I, we were able to put a million dollars into the federal budget in order to help early childhood learning right here … for the young kids in the greater Springfield area,” Markey said in front of the media. “The community knows best where they want the money to go, and we can see the results today with all the happy, smiling faces of all the kids coming out of the greater Springfield area. I think we’re proud of being able to earmark money for projects like that.”
The Springfield JCC has spearheaded a “Be Our Best” campaign since 2017 to help raise $12 million for upgrades to the 70-year old building at 1160 Dickinson St.
As of July, the center has secured close to $7 million thanks to 100 donors, including the $1 million federal grant secured by Markey, Neal and Warren.
Karen Jarmoc, the chief executive officer at the Springfield JCC, said in an interview that the grant will refurbish the center’s youth and family wing, including the gymnasium portion. It will also fund new flooring, ceiling, tables, chairs, energy-efficient windows and HVAC systems, along with ADA-accessible bathrooms and hallways to make the environment more inclusive.
“More and more, we are serving families with after-school care, with summer camp and with early care and education for infants through age 5,” Jarmoc said. “So, this idea that we’re providing a safe, engaging, wonderful space for young people in support of families who might have one or two working parents, it’s really critical.”
Jarmoc shared that the center will start refurbishing in a few weeks, with the hope of finishing by mid-December in time for a grand reopening ceremony. She said programs will continue during construction, but some may have to move to other areas of the center over the next couple months.
“It’s going to really also increase our ability to serve more families,” Jarmoc said of the renovations. “The more conducive spaces for childcare that we can have here, the more families we can be supporting.”
The five Pioneer Valley Projects that received money covered science, housing and urban development, energy and water resources and rural development.
Of the $10 million awarded, $4.6 million went to the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission for its new drinking water treatment plant. Another $4 million was allocated to Deerfield for the preservation, rehabilitation and repurposing of a 135-year-old former school building to serve as the town’s municipal offices.
Meanwhile, $427,000 went to the Community YMCA of Greenfield for capital improvements at Camp Amex and $370,000 was awarded to the Public Health Institute of Western Mass. to develop digital resources.
“In many instances, programs like this need funding from the federal government,” Markey said. “And we’re here today to show to the people of Western Massachusetts, [and] the whole country, that it works. And it works especially for young people.”
The JCC serves around 200 campers a week in the summer, 70 children in its pre-K program, 65 children in its upcoming fall program and 45 in East Longmeadow. Jarmoc said a new after school program is coming to Forest Park Middle School in October.
State Sens. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), along with state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) and Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow) were also in attendance for the JCC tour.
