Page 40 - BusinessWest October 17, 2022

Improving Homes — and Lives — in Chicopee
On Sept. 29, Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) brought its #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild to Chicopee. About 100 volunteers worked on four homes on one block, all in one day. Two of the four homes are owned by U.S. Air Force military veteran families.
homes to help reduce energy use, save money, and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment for our resi- dents and the community.”
Improvements have includ- ed installing or retrofitting HVAC systems to allow for oil- to-natural-gas heat and solar conversions; new roofs; ener- gy-efficient windows, doors, and appliances; water-saving plumbing fixtures; electrical upgrades; mold remediation, lead abatement, and pest con- trol; interior and exterior paint- ing; and modifying homes for aging or disabled homeown- ers, such as building exterior access ramps.
Since Revitalize CDC’s inception in 1992, the organization has repaired and rehabili- tated more than 1,100 homes with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $42 million into Western Mass. In the past year, Revitalize CDC completed 72 home-repair projects on the homes of low-income families with children, elderly citizens, military veterans, and people with disabilities.
The organiation’s JoinedForces, in partner- ship with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes.
“We are so grateful to the city of Chicopee for welcoming us with open arms and sup- porting our initiative to help make homes safe and healthy for those in need,” said Col- leen Loveless, president and CEO of Revital- ize CDC, noting that the work the volunteers and building contractors tackled included replacing rotted porches and steps; repairing accessible ramps, roofs, and decks; installing new shed, windows, storm doors, and gutters; power washing; painting; and yardwork.
The work was supported financially and with volunteers from American Red Cross and the Chicopee Fire Department, the city of Chi- copee, Baystate Health, Berkshire Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Center for Human Development, Country Bank, Go Graphix, the MassMutual Foundation, M&T Bank, Ondrick Natural Earth, PeoplesBank, Rocky’s Ace Hardware, TD Bank, and Westfield Bank.
“Our #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild goal is to work on hundreds of homes in tar- geted neighborhoods, clean up vacant lots, improve playgrounds, and create community gardens,” Loveless said. “Revitalize CDC focus- es on making meaningful improvements on
a
Top: Chicopee Mayor John Vieau joins, from left, Revitalize
CDC Executive Director Colleen Loveless; Director of Programs Ethel Griffin; and Moyah Smith, board clerk. Left: contractors and volunteers get to work.
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40 OCTOBER 17, 2022
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