GE will give a $15 million multi-year grant to the Town of Newtown for the construction and development and operation of a multi-purpose community center, First Selectman Pat Llodra and GE officials announced at a Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night.
"One of the biggest needs of the town is to figure out how to convene members of the community of all ages in one place," said GE Capital Vice President and CIO Martha Poulter, who made the announcement during the meeting.
The center will be owned and operated by the town of Newtown, and is in the "preliminary" stages of development, according to a release from the town.
"The seniors can play mah-jongg, the youngsters can learn to swim, and teens can have their space," Llodra said.
$10 million would go toward development and construction, along with $5 million for operation and programming for the first five years, including hiring staff.
"I'm so honored but so humbled by the scope of a 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."
While no location has been set, Llodra said her "thinking" is to put the center at Fairfield Hills. She 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.
The community center is considered part of GE's "long-term" assistance to Newtown. GE has previously provided four full-time employees for use by the town, including assistants for the First Selectman and Board of Education.
"We continue to find ways to help we find are meaningful, and we look forward to this ongoing collaboration," said Poulter. "We have a long history as a company of supporting our neighbors where we live and work."
More than 150 GE employees live in Newtown, Poulter said. The company is based in Fairfield, CT.
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