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PROPOSED ICE ARENA WILL BOLSTER ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
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MassDevelopment presents $25,000.00
pre-development grant to Ann and Steve Connally of Quinn’
Legacy Foundation, Inc. MassDevelopment President, Michael
Hogan, Ann & Steve Connally, and Representative
Peter Larkin
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PITTSFIELD-Quinn’s Legacy Foundation, a
non-profit organization that is seeking to build a dual sheet
ice arena in Pittsfield, has been awarded a $25,000 Predevelopment
Assistance Grant from Mass Development Finance Agency. Quinn’s
Legacy is in the process of raising an estimated $7 million
dollars needed to build the facility.
In a letter to Quinn’s Legacy Executive Director Stephen
Connally, Mass Development President and CEO Michael Hogan
stated “Competition for Agency funding is intense, and
the success of your application is directly related to the
quality of your proposal and the ability of the project to
meet MassDevelopment’s mission of creating jobs and eliminating
blight.”
Connally said “Without a doubt this proposed facility
is a much needed entity in Pittsfield and Berkshire County.
Having said that, it is particularly encouraging to know that
our business plan is solid enough to warrant this type of
grant from Mass Development. We were awarded this grant because
Mass Development believes this project will spur economic
growth in the area. Mass Development is the latest to recognize
this fact and it is our hope that they will not be the last.”
In fiscal year 2001 Mass Development provided more than $40
million dollars in financial assistance to a total of 107
projects across the state of Massachusetts. Quinn’s Legacy
Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing state-of-the-art athletic and educational support
and to promoting self-esteem and sportsmanship for individuals
and families of Berkshire County and the surrounding tri-state
area. Founded by Stephen and Ann Connally of Cheshire, MA.
in memory of their son, Quinn, who died as the result of being
struck in the neck by a hockey puck in December 2000. The
foundation is seeking to construct a dual rink ice arena in
Pittsfield for recreational skating, ice hockey, figure skating,
and speed skating, as well as indoor soccer, lacrosse, as
well as other indoor events/activities.
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