Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Secure $1.4 Million in Federal Funding for Berlin’s Community Center at Historic Flower Street School Site

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited the location of the historic Flower Street School in Berlin to highlight the $1.4 million federal investment that he, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress to help transform the site into a new community center. The future building will house the SHORE UP! Head Start Center, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services summer camp and after-school programs, computer labs, recreational spaces, and a museum honoring the history of the Flower Street School and the neighborhood.

"For the Town of Berlin, this new community center will be a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together. With federal funding we fought to secure, Berlin will transform the site of the historic Flower Street School into a hub with educational and recreational services for residents. This initiative will honor the Town's history while creating new opportunities and building a better future for the community," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Our communities need spaces where people can go to learn, socialize, and better their community. The Community Center on Flower Street in Berlin will soon become a space of fellowship, friendship, history, and advocacy where children and seniors alike can grow. I am proud that the funding Senator Van Hollen and I worked to secure will launch this terrific project," said Senator Angela Alsobrooks.

"Today marks a historic milestone for Berlin. I am deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen for securing this critical funding and for joining us in Berlin to celebrate how far this community-driven project has come. The $1.4 million investment will make the Flower Street Community Center shovel-ready and move us closer to turning a decades-long vision into reality," said Mayor Zack Tyndall, Town of Berlin.