7 RI communities receive grants to create, renovate learning centers
by: Leah Crowley
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A total of $26.9 million in grants are being awarded to seven Rhode Island communities to create and renovate community learning centers.
Governor Dan McKee’s office announced the second round of grants in the Learn365RI initiative on Tuesday.
“The community learning centers create centralized, convenient spaces for all ages to participate in education, employment, and wellness programs,” McKee said in a press release.
The grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Municipalities can design the projects to fit their community’s needs.
As a requirement of the grants, the community centers will offer a minimum five years worth of programming aimed at improving educational outcomes.
The following cities and towns are receiving funding:
- Central Falls: The city is receiving $8,985,198 to renovate the former Ralph Holden Community Center. The space will be named El Centro and will serve as a multilingual center with free afterschool programming and workforce development.
- Coventry: With its $4,304,000 grant, Coventry will convert a portion of the Town Hall Annex into space for workforce development, health monitoring and educational support.
- Charlestown: The $654,597 Charlestown is receiving will go toward renovating the Cross Mills Public Library to increase space for studying, programming and publicly available technology.
- Exeter: The town is being awarded $802,000 to buy and convert a property on Ten Rod Road. The building will be turned into a learning center.
- Lincoln: With its $2,000,000 grant, Lincoln will be constructing a new learning center attached to the Lincoln Centralized Rescue Center. The 2,400 square-foot center will include a computer lab and create a space for workforce education programs.
- North Providence: The $3,160,894 North Providence is receiving will go toward renovating the North Providence Union Free Library, creating a workshop space, job training and telemedicine programming.
- Woonsocket: The city is being awarded $6,990,500 to build a multipurpose community center at Cass Park. The center will have programming for work, education and health monitoring.
You can learn more about the state’s first round of grants by clicking here.