Community Mental Health Affiliates Recipient of $50,000 Community Foundation Grant

New Britain, Conn., July 1, 2019- Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) has received a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB). The $50,000 grant will benefit CMHA’s capital campaign to help finance renovations at its new service building at 233 Main Street in downtown New Britain.

“The Plaza” building at 233 Main Street was purchased in late 2018 and has been undergoing renovations ever since. CMHA staff will provide over 2,300 clients with 70,000 behavioral health and support services in the first year. The current tenants, the Social Security Administration on the second floor and the State of Connecticut’s Workman’s Compensation on the fourth floor, will remain in the building while CMHA will occupy the remaining floors. Programming is on the third and fifth floors, administrative departments are on the sixth and seventh floors, and a new pharmacy and community room will be added to the first floor.

To date, CMHA New Britain non-residential programs have been offered in six different locations. The move to Main Street decreases staff travel time and expenses between sites, as well as payments and maintenance of other properties. Consolidating programs from the various sites allows CMHA to reinvest money into direct services.

Aside from client benefits, CMHA’s new downtown location contributes to the economic revitalization of New Britain by increasing traffic to downtown business with over 200 employees and by also providing $100,000 in parking garage revenue to the City of New Britain annually.

“We’re grateful for the support of local partners such as the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain who understand the importance of caring for our neighbors struggling with behavioral health and substance abuse issues,” said CMHA President & CEO Ray Gorman. “This gift to support our Main Street campaign will help us enhance our services and treat more people, leading to a healthier community.”

CMHA’s mission is to be a leading provider of an integrated health and behavioral health care system for children, families, and adults. By fostering improvement in the quality of life for its clients, CMHA contributes to the well-being of the communities it serves.

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is “Where Good Begins” in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The Foundation works to inspire philanthropy, responsibly manage permanent charitable assets effectively, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership.  For more information or to support our work, visit www.cfgnb.org