Assemblyman Cahill Secures $2 Million Grant for Community Center

Lawmaker Works With Community Organizations to Reclaim Local Building

December 2, 2009

Kingston – Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster/Dutchess) announced a collaborative effort with the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Catholic Charities, St. Mary's and St. Peter's parishes, the Catholic Youth Organization and Agri-Business Child Development to transform the former St. Peter's School, on Adams Street in Kingston, into a facility that will serve as the focal point of educational and recreational services in the community. The building will be renovated using $2.15 million in funding Assemblyman Cahill secured in the 2008-09 State Budget. Once completed, the facility will offer child care and development services, a youth recreation center, and provide facilities for a food pantry.

"At a time when support for disadvantaged families is being threatened, hunger is growing and local public recreational programs for children are at risk, it is vitally important that we unite as a community to assure the availability of services for those most in need,” said Assemblyman Cahill. “I am proud to have the opportunity to work with these organizations to move this project forward.”

Agri-Business Child Development (A.B.C.D.) has, since 1946, provided child care, social services and nutrition to children of eligible families employed in the agricultural industry. A.B.C.D. Director Maggie Evans said, "This project is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with creativity and determination. People will find employment, children will be safe and well-educated and the community will prosper." In Ulster County, A.B.C.D. already has a child development center at 355 Route 32 North in New Paltz.

The project will make facilities available for the Ulster County C.Y.O. Basketball League and other sports activities, including many of the popular programs run by the former parochial school. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York will establish offices in the building and operate a food pantry from the lower level.

An economic development boon for the Rondout area of the city, this renovation brings jobs for local contractors and will employ 25 permanent staff members at the center. The highly-regarded Carey Construction Company of Kingston has been retained as the prime contractor for the renovation. Some of Carey’s local signature projects include the acclaimed restoration of Kingston City Hall and the expansion and modernization of the Hudson Valley Senior Residence. This renovation will bring back to life a prominent and historic building. The facility, visible from Broadway, formerly connected St. Peter's Church on Wurts St. with the campus of Kingston Catholic School and St. Mary's Church. It has panoramic views of the Rondout Creek and played an important role in the development of German-American social life in the community.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York is expected to join Assemblyman Cahill and other officials and dignitaries for a formal announcement of this grant allocation at the soon-to-be renovated building on December 8th, 2009 at 1:00pm.

For details contact: David Lowrie at Assemblymember Cahill's District Office at (845) 338-9610 or Susan Dingee at A.B.C.D. at (845) 229-6101, or visit www.agri-business.org. The A.B.C.D. website also contains a full list of family services in education, health care, nutrition and transportation assistance at their 13 locations throughout New York State.

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