SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Congressman Richard Neal joined Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno for a federal funding announcement on an ongoing construction project.

Officials recently secured half a million dollars for the East Springfield neighborhood library’s renovation, which is in addition to the city’s $5 million investment for a project that has now racked up more than 12 million. The money will be used to enhance and expand the neighborhood learning center.

“Where other places are downsizing or shutting down libraries, the City of Springfield, we’ve done the exact opposite. We’ve not only kept our neighborhood branch libraries open and expanded ours, we’re also building new libraries...East Forest Parkand now East Springfield, so we’re very, very proud of it,” Sarno explained.

The planning and design phase is expected to complete by the end of spring and construction is set to begin in either the spring or summer of next year.

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