Press Release

BUCHANAN ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NEWTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER

Washington, DC -- Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL 13) announced today that the House Appropriations Committee has approved additional federal funds to assist in the redevelopment of the Robert L. Taylor Community Center in Newtown.  The full House is expected this week to pass the fiscal year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which includes $250,000 from the Economic Development Initiative account to help renovate and restore the community center. 

“This is a good investment of taxpayer dollars,” said Buchanan.  “Community centers provide a safe and nurturing environment for area kids and families.  This Center is the most heavily used recreation center in the city.  Most of the facilities are in need of complete renovation or replacement.  Its improvement will provide modern recreation facilities for this community.”

“Through the efforts of Representative Vern Buchanan, the plans to redevelop the Robert L. Taylor Community Center are becoming a reality,” said Newtown Redevelopment Director John Hawthorne.  “This will assist in providing a state of the art community center, with amenities, that will meet long overdue recreational, social and community service needs across the multi-generational population of the Newtown community.”

The Robert L. Taylor Community Center is the only government sponsored/owned recreation center in Newtown.  The recreation center and its 10 acres of land, which include athletic fields and a pool, is the home of the Redskins little league football, a gym, weight room, auditorium, and business offices.  Buchanan toured the facility today with city leaders.