General Electric will give a $15 million multi-year grant to Newtown for the construction and development and operation of a multi-purpose community center, First Selectman Pat Llodra announced at a Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night.
GE Capital Vice President and CIO Martha Poulter made the announcement during the meeting.
"I'm so honored but so humbled by scope of gift like that," Llodra said. "I've been anxious and a little teary -- how do you thank people for extraordinary kindness? ... This will allow us to move forward. We've desperately needed a place to address the needs of our seniors and youngsters. This allows us to do that in a very meaningful way. It's an extraordinary opportunity for town to come together around a project."
While no location has been set, Llodra said her "thinking" is to put the center at Fairfield Hills.
$10 million would go toward development and construction, along with $5 million for operation and programming for the first five years, including hiring staff.
Llodra said planning would begin immediately.
"It's going to require a significant amount of planning," she said. "The partnership between this gift and what we think we have in the CIP will make all of that work together to get this wonderful new opportunity for the town."
At least a dozen GE representatives were present at the meeting, along with local seniors.
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