Newtown is answer some questions posed to the town about a proposed community center. GE made a $15 million multi-year grant available to Newtown in November for the development, construction, and operation of a community center. $10 million will be committed to the development and construction of this new facility. The remaining $5 million will be dedicated to operating costs for the center over five years.
CEO Jeff Immelt says GE has more than 150 employees who live in town and is committed to supporting friends, family and neighbors as they continue to heal. The company made the donation to fill a need that exists in Newtown.
The Town’s goal is to have design and construction complete in 2016. General public input will be solicited at many steps along the way. Plans for the facility would progress through multiple public hearings.
Several months ago the Town put together an informal, ad hoc, study group of representatives from the Commission on Aging, Parks and Recreation, town department heads, and community leaders to identify current and future needs. The group was also charged with reviewing the research done over past years on the development of a community center and a senior center.
A feasibility study will determine if the community center can be added to the Fairfield Hill Campus. The original plan for the community center located the facility on the site of the former Litchfield hall/Yale Lab buildings.
