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Senator Bruno Secured Funds for Family Resource Center

RENSSELAER--On November 15th, Senator Joseph L. Bruno celebrated with local city leaders and with the Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region, Inc. (CEO) on the opening of a new Family Resource Center located on 1641 Third Street in Rensselaer. The former St. Joseph’s/St. John’s Academy building was converted into the new Family Resource Center that houses a Head Start Program, an Early Head Start Program, and other family programs.

1). Mayor Dan Dwyer (D-Rensselaer), State Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno (R-Brunswick), County Executive Kathy Jimino (R-Troy) and Karen Gordon, Executive Director of Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region, Inc. (CEO), officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Rensselaer Family Resource Center. 2). Sen. Bruno with a child from the Center. (Photos by Jim Church, Communications, Sen. Bruno’s Office)

In early 2006 Sen. Bruno helped secure over $600,000 of New York State funds for the Center - available through the Governor’s Office for Small Cities (GOSC), the administrative agency for the Small Cities Community Development Program funded by the federal government. Small Cities provides funds to eligible cities, towns, and villages in NY State with a population under 50,000 and counties with an area population under 200,000. Money is for revitalization of neighborhoods, expansion of affordable housing, jobs, business opportunities, and/or the improvement of community facilities and services.

Besides necessary renovations, the grant was used to purchase new kitchen and playground equipment. Sen. Bruno said, “People here will get help with education and employment opportunities as well as help with safe housing and many other important services that can make an enormous difference in quality of life and achieving success and independence.”

The CEO is a community action agency serving residents of Rensselaer County and surrounding Capital Region. Community action agencies, first created during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, serve as a conduit to connect people with resources related to employment, education, housing, youth, early childhood education, teenage opportunities, and energy conservation services.

Karen E. Gordon, Executive Director of CEO, states, “Since 1965, Head Start has been the cornerstone of our organization. We have graduated hundreds of students to enter their primary education with a head start in life because they know the general concepts of success.”

CEO’s Karen Wending said “The CEO board decided to open another location to serve the needs of lower income families and we appreciate Senator Bruno’s assistance in securing these funds.”

Families are encouraged to check out the many programs through CEO. Citizens can connect and network within their community, youth can prepare for college or get life skills, training, and employment mentoring, and families in crisis can utilize child care and other support services. Foster grandparents are also welcome to volunteer skills.

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