A Milestone for Arc Community Services

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, after nine years of delays and setbacks, Arc Community Services in Fitchburg celebrated the completion of phase 1 of their building renovations with a mini-ribbon cutting ceremony.  Local dignitaries, business people, and families gathered to celebrate the long awaited opening of the newly renovated vocational floor that marks a milestone of their building renovations.

Kathy, a young woman who works on the vocational floor, gave tours to those who attended the event and spoke about how the move to the new space has changed her life.  Fitchburg’s Mayor Lisa Wong, called the renovation project “a total transformation, literally from the ground up.”

Prior to the completion of Phase 1, individuals worked in the basement of the 100-year old building located on Main Street in Fitchburg.  Working conditions were cramped and dusty and offered no windows for natural light.  Mary Heafy, President and CEO, said, “Completing phase 1 means nobody from the work program will work in the basement again.”  The new work floor offers aesthetically pleasing walls and columns, new bathrooms and locker rooms, and a meeting space with large windows that overlook Main Street.  In addition to the improved working conditions, productivity on the work floor has increased in quality and quantity.  New business partnerships have been established resulting in more extensive and diverse job training opportunities for participants in the employment-training program.

Arc Community Services has moved into phase 2 of the project that will include a new loading dock, a passenger elevator, teaching kitchen, cafeteria, fitness center, family resource center, training facilities, and classrooms. Phase 2 will be completed in spring 2012.

Arc Community Services successfully raised $2.6M when the project stalled due to economic decline.  In the meantime, material and labor costs increased and projected costs to complete the project rose to $5.6 million. To date, the Arc has raised $4.18 million, sliced half a million dollars from the project through design changes, and needs a final $921,500 to complete the project.  Mary Heafy projects that in one year, the Arc will be celebrating the Grand Opening of the completely renovated building.

Construction resumed in April 2011 after Arc Community Services received an anonymous $600,000 donation towards the capital campaign along with a two-to-one matching grant from a local business.  There is a critical and timely need to secure the final funds needed by March 31, 2012 so that the organization can close on $525,000 in financing through MassDevelopment.  All donations will be gratefully accepted.

Picture from left to right: State Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, Board Chair Atty. Jennifer LaBaire, vocational program employee Kathy Meservey, President and CEO Mary Heafy, State Rep. Stephen DiNatale

About the Author: Jennifer Peck

Jennifer Peck has four years experience in the non-profit field.  She comes to us from The United Arc of Franklin and Hampshire Counties, Inc. in Greenfield MA, bringing her significant talents in Fundraising Development as well as public relations, social media marketing, and website design.