Neighbors Link receives $1.2 million grant

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - Neighbors Link, a Mount Kisco-based program that provides immigrant families with essential services such as education and work training, has received a $1.2 million in building renovation funds from the state.
Recently, the organization has been inundated with new clients and, in order to accommodate them, had to lease space across from its Columbus Avenue location.

The money will go towards supporting that location’s renovation, namely: additional classroom spaces, children’s play areas, and upgraded technology infrastructure for workforce development.

The grant was announced by state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, along with Assemblymembers Chris Burdick (D-Bedford) and Dana Levenberg (D-Ossining), who met recently with Neighbors Link’s executive director, Carola Otero Bracco.

“New York has a long history of immigration and it is our duty to continue the tradition of supporting new residents with open arms and hearts,” said Heastie. “Neighbors Link does incredible work in the Westchester community and I’m honored to join Assemblymembers Burdick and Levenberg to announce this support.” 

The organization “has made our community a stronger place by helping new residents with the additional services they need to make Westchester their home,” Burdick said.

“I’m overjoyed we were able to provide this funding for them to increase their reach and range of services. Neighbors Link is truly a beacon of hope to so many in our community,” he added.

Levenberg, noting that it’s the duty of state representatives “to ensure that Westchester County has the support services needed to make our community welcoming for all.”

Neighbors Link has, she said, “stepped in to help new residents with legal and educational opportunities for two decades now, but as the need continues to grow, we must ensure that they have all the resources they need to continue providing for our families.”

The funding will allow it to transform their new space and to expand their services, Levenberg said.

Neighbors Link posted this note of gratitude in English and Spanish on its website.

“A huge thank you to Speaker Heastie and Assemblymembers Chris Burdick and Dana Levenberg for procuring $1.2 million for building renovation funds for Neighbors Link! This funding will be used for leasehold improvements to renovate our new 8,000 square foot Mount Kisco center to our exact specifications and will provide opportunities to increase the frequency and capacity of our program offerings, address urgent needs, and ultimately serve more immigrant community members with critical services.”

Un agradecimiento enorme al Presidente de la Asamblea, Heastie, y a los Asambleístas Chris Burdick y Dana Levenberg por obtener $1.2 millones en fondos para la renovación del edificio de Neighbors Link. Estos fondos se utilizarán para mejoras en las instalaciones, permitiendo adecuar nuestro nuevo centro de 8,000 pies cuadrados en Mount Kisco de acuerdo nuestras necesidades. Esto brindará oportunidades para aumentar la frecuencia y capacidad de nuestros programas, atender necesidades urgentes y, poder servir a más miembros de la comunidad inmigrante con servicios esenciales.

Heastie and Burdick also joined Boys & Girls Club CEO Alyzza Ozer at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, which is also located in Mount Kisco. 

Established in 1938, the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester “has provided high-quality developmental programing for children across Westchester County, including after-school services,” they said.

In this year’s budget, the Assembly Majority provided $140,000 to support the continuation of the Boys & Girls Club’s after-school program for the Bedford Central School District due to the new eligibility criteria for NYS LEAPS (New York State Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports).

Good to Know

For information in Spanish and English about Neighbors Link, visit neighborslink.org, call (914) 666-3410, or email info@neighborslink.org. It’s located at 27 Columbus Ave., Mount Kisco. There are also locations in Ossining and Yonkers.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, visit bgcnw.com, call (914) 666-8069, or email info@BGCNW.com. It’s located at 351 Main St., Mount Kisco, N.Y.