(Pictured above left to right-Tom Turnbull, Chamber of Commerce, Assemblyman Steve Hawley, James Owen, Sandy Gillard, Robert Curtis, Execitive Director, Jay Grasso/Sen. Ranzenhofer’s Office and Ben Bonarigo Jr.)
Literacy Genesee/Orleans cut the ribbon on their new location at the mall in the City of Batavia Thursday afternoon.
Executive Director Robert Curtis says the new space is larger and provides enough room for two classrooms, offices and enough room to accommodate the 24 students they currently have.
The rent is also $200 a month cheaper.
Literacy Genesee/Orleans was previously located at 301 North street, but has outgrown the location.
“We were looking for a more central location in the downtown area where people come and go,” says Curtis.
The location was previously a medical office and recently became available.
The Mall Merchants Association and the City of Batavia are currently working to negotiate a deal that will end the years long argument over who will fix the leaking roof at the mall.
“Before the Board made the decision to move here, we checked to see the status of the negotiations, and without giving details, we were told by many parties that it was going to happen, the roof will be repaired and things will change here.”
“We are coming in at the right time,” says Curtis.
Literacy Genesee/Orleans offers educational programs and services to those who need help with basic reading and writing skills or are working on their High School Equivalency. They also offer English classes and can help with math skills. There is also a computer class.
“Our focus is to get people ready for the workplace.”
Students accepted are age 16, who have withdrawn from high school, and above.
“Previously we had a more low key operational method,” says Curtis.
“Presently, because of our state mandates and requirements for the small grant the State Education Department gives us, we have to enroll a certain number of students annually.”
“In order to do that, we have to have a very large public presence in all of Genesee County as well as Orleans County.”
Literacy Genesee/Orleans currently employs four people in Genesee County and one person in Orleans County.
They are also looking for instructors to help out.
If interested in the program, which is free, or helping out you can check out their website below.
http://literacygeneseeorleans.weebly.com/
Or you can call Literacy Genesee/Orleans at 585-343-0802 in Batavia/LeRoy or 585-589-2686 in Albion.