Action Advocacy and Housing, Emergency Services, Gloucester

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act in ACTION

ARRA & Massachusetts Community Action Agencies

Thanks to funding distributed through the Federal Stimulus Plan, also known as the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Community Action Agencies throughout Massachusetts have:

■ Created new jobs and saved existing jobs that would have been at risk

■ Maintained and expanded asset-building, education and training programs

■ Expanded healthcare, community development, and organizing initiatives

■ Expanded the Weatherization Assistance Program, helping more clients and improving energy efficiency in more homes - Read about the nation's quest to weatherize 82,000 homes this summer!

■ Restored homeless prevention services that were cut in 2009

■ Created new service sites to reach more people

ACTION'S Faces of Recovery

Some of the clients, staff, and others who have benefited from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

ARRA & ACTION, INC.

As a recipient of ARRA funds, Action, inc. has been able to develop new services, enhance existing programs, create jobs in our community, and assist more people on Cape Ann and beyond. We have:

■ Weatherized more homes and increased the work being done on each home, keeping people safe and warm and making

Cape Ann more energy efficient

■ Expanded our Clinical Medical Assistant Training Program and offered additional Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide Training

■ Offered bilingual services and outreach to the area’s immigrant communities

■ Offered English for Speakers of Other Languages and Financial Literacy classes

■ Referred clients to financial and housing attorneys, and to North Shore Mediation

■ Opened satellite offices in Ipswich and Rockport, better serving two key areas

■ Hired new staff, including Advocates for the new satellite offices, a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor for our Homeless Shelter, and Energy Services staff

■ Saved positions that would have been cut, including an Academic & Vocational Coach for our COMPASS Youth Program

■ Provided local weatherization and heating contractors with increased work through the Weatherization Assistance Program