The temporary space was paid for by an emergency grant from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. Those challenges began when a water line on the second floor of the center on Spruce Street burst, causing extensive damage on its first floor. “We’ve been very busy, but it has been a challenge,” said Executive Director Neddy Latimore from her temporary office at 14 Manning Ave. LEOMINSTER - The staff of the Spanish American Center, working in temporary downtown office space, is back to offering its clients services from after a burst water pipe forced the center to move last month. The center is seeking the services of an outside consultant that will assist with the planning process.įollow Peter Jasinski on Twitter and Tout in high gear for those in need, Spanish American Center busy at temporary Leominster homeīy Cliff Clark, 06:32:25 AM EDT0 COMMENTS “It is time for us to reassess our mission and our programs, and determine what, if any, changes in direction are warranted at this point in time,” O’Brien said. The need to re-evaluate the center’s goals and capabilities is partly due to a continued steady influx of families from the Caribbean, and Central and South America into the Leominster area. The foundation also funded one of the center’s previous strategic plans, O’Brien said. At that time, the foundation had given consecutive grants for the purchase, preparation and dispersal of hot dinners to about 180 people two nights a week. It had previously been part of a two-year joint effort to provide nutritious meals to displaced families living in local hotels. The most recent grant is not the first time the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has provided the Spanish American Center with funding. O’Brien said the subcommittee will be organized over the next several months, and she expects the resulting five-year plan to be completed and implemented by the start of next summer. The questions would range from how the community views the center to how the needs of local residents could best be met. The subcommittee will develop a list of questions to ask key community stakeholders identified by the consultant. The consultant will work with a subcommittee comprised of the center’s staff and board of directors with an end goal of determining what the center’s strengths and challenges are, as well as available opportunities within the community. “We are excited that, with this grant, we can hire an experienced consultant who can objectively help us make decisions about our future.” “We are pleased to receive this grant from the foundation, as we believe that we are at a critical point in the life of our organization,” said Susan O’Brien, the center’s planner and grant writer. LEOMINSTER - With the help of an $11,800 grant it recently received from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, the Spanish American Center will develop a five-year strategic plan to address the changing needs of the center. Leominster’s Spanish American Center gets $11,800 grant to address needs By Peter Jasinski
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