Representative Alicea and Senator Moore: Southbridge Youth Services Funding Included in FY ’08 Budget

Legislature Approves Budget, Sends to Governor for Signature 

Representative Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) and Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) announced the approval of the Legislature’s Conference Committee Budget today, which now sits on the Governor’s desk for approval. The Budget includes $100,000 for violence prevention funding and $50,000 in teen pregnancy prevention funding for the town of Southbridge. 

“The youth of Southbridge will be well served by these appropriations,” stated Alicea, “Two much needed and important youth services will be able to continue. I applaud the work of Police Chief Dan Charette and know that with his leadership, this funding will be put to excellent use for the children of Southbridge.” 

The violence prevention funds will be used to run after school and summer programs at the Southbridge Community Center under the leadership of the Southbridge Police Department. The teen pregnancy preventing funding will be for the continuation and expansion of the initiative in Southbridge. 

“The budget passed today provides important funding that will improve the health and safety of youth people in Southbridge,” said Moore, “Working with my new colleague, Rep. Alicea, we were able to convince the legislative leadership to keep these allocations in the final budget. We’re hopeful that Governor Patrick will see fit to sign them into law.” 

The violence prevention funding has been previously used to support after school and summer programs, including basketball, street hockey and trips to cultural locations outside of downtown Southbridge. Plans for this summer will include a mock trial group, an equestrian piece and a cooking program. A summer subsidized lunch program, funded through Project Bread, will also be a part of the community center’s offered activities.