Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray made three stops in Brockton today. His first stop was at a groundbreaking ceremony for Bernardi Brockton Car Dealership at 300 Manly Street at 10am. The project was helped by a $16 million recovery zone facility bond, issued to the company on the state's behalf by MassDevelopment and conventional financing.
"The project will put people back to work as we focus on economic recovery in Massachusetts" said the Lt. Governor. Expecting to create construction jobs right away and more than 125 permanent jobs when their doors open. Mayor Balzotti was also in attendance at the ground breaking and said "Bernardi will not just add to our commercial tax base, but it will also bring needed new jobs to Brockton."
The entourage of Senator Thomas P. Kennedy, Representatives Brady and Canavan, Mayor Balzotti and the Lt.Governor headed next to Montillio's Bakery Company at 134 Spark Street at 1pm to announce that the administration is doing all it can with assisting small businesses and aiming to strengthen them through programs that will aid in their sustainability and growth.
The Lt. Governors final stop in Brockton was at the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center at 63 Main Street were he sat down with patients, the public and Mayor Balzotti, Representative's Canavan and Brady, State Senator Kennedy and the Director of the Health Center Sue Joss. In Round table fashion everyone introduced themselves and then the Lt. Governor was informed about the work and the services that are offered at the Health Center.
The most exciting announcement was that of the 11.3 million dollar Federal grant that will be used to expand the urgent care center with a four floor addition. The Health Center is the second largest employer in Brockton, the first being the City and the Center serves more than 130,000 patients a year.
The Urgent care center serves about 1000 patients a month and when the expansion is completed that number is expected to double.The Center also plans on expanding into mental health as well as expanding their dental because many patients have limited access to dental especially now that Masshealth no longer covers many services as of this past July that it use to cover. The expansion is expected to create construction jobs and when completed permanent jobs.
