Community center named for Eugene Capoccia
Was key in establishing after-school learning program
The Leominster Housing Authority has dedicated the community center at 138 Viscoloid Avenue as the Eugene J. Capoccia Community Center after the late Gene Capoccia who served as executive director of the LHA from 1990 to 2015.
Capoccia was instrumental in creating the after- school academic learning center designed for Leominster students.
The center provides students with educational resources to help them achieve their potential in school, done through extra guidance and assistance with homework.
The center is supported by donations and grant funding acquired through the housing authority.
The program is funded in part by the city of Leominster Community Development Block Grant program and the Department of Urban Development.
Officials said the center is a valuable asset to the families of the Allencrest Apartments and the Leominster community.
On June 17, a crowd of over 100 people attended the dedication onsite where current LHA Executive Director Benjamin Gold was the master of ceremonies.
Remarks were made by Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, Ben Stone, director of public housing at the Department of Housing and Community Development, state Rep. Natalie Higgins, D- Leominster, and Susan Templeton, district director, and Elizabeth Walsh, director of constituent services, both on behalf of state Sen. John Cronin, D- Lunenburg.
Also present were members of the Leominster Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Marcel Leger, Virginia Tocci and Yanneth BermudezCamp and MASSNAHRO Executive Director Donna Brown-rego.