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Meriden Children First Initiative News

Web Site: http://www.meridenchildrenfirst.org
165 Miller St., Meriden, CT 06450
Tel: () - Fax: (203) 630-2423

Non-profit group dedicated to improving the lives of Meriden children and families by way of research, leadership, training and advocacy.

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Meriden Family Zone Receives Grant: Obama Administration Announces 2011 Promise Neighborhoods Grant Winners

December 19, 2011

Meriden Children First applied for federal funding for the Meriden Family Zone project from the federal Promise Neighborhood grant program. The Meriden Family Zone is an effort modeled after the Harlem Children Zone to connect families within a defined geographic area with already available services and programs in an intense case management approach meant to bring about sustainable improvement, especially with regard to educational attainment. The program is funded by a number of different local and non-local sources, including the City. A number of different agencies and groups works cooperatively together with Children First in this effort. The geographical area chosen currently is the area generally bounded by Broad, Liberty and Pratt Streets. The City has concentrated a number of our efforts- code enforcement, sidewalk improvements, Neighborhood Stabilization Program projects, etc. in that area. It is the intent of the program to expand the geographical area to include the Mills and more of the area covered by the City's TOD plan.

The press release announces that the program was one of 15 chosen nationwide out of over 200 applicants to receive funding under the Promise Neighborhood program. The program had the highest score of all the applicants and will be receiving just under $500,000. This is a very impressive achievement given the highly competitive nature of the grant.

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