NORTHAMPTON, CITY OF
James House Community Learning Center: The City of Northampton is in the process of renovating the James House, a municipally owned building formerly occupied by the Hampshire County Juvenile Court, for conversion into the Community Learning Center. The Learning Center will provide for ABE/ESOL classes, family literacy, early childhood programming, college transition courses, job and skills training, educational testing and a variety of support services to be co-located under one roof in a central location in downtown Northampton accessible by public transportation. These services are presently offered by several different nonprofit organizations dispersed throughout Northampton, many of whom are in danger of leaving the City due to costly market rents in and around downtown.
Funds from the award will go towards planning, design, and renovation work for the James House. Examples of such work include classroom renovations, construction of accessibility ramps and classrooms, energy efficiency updates (including solar panels), and general carpentry work.