Gándara Center to Expand Services with MassDevelopment Bond

SPRINGFIELD — MassDevelopment issued a $1,256,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of Gándara Mental Health Center Inc., which is using proceeds to renovate and equip a 9,610-square-foot building at 85 St. George Road in Springfield, where the organization will expand to provide additional culturally sensitive behavioral-health services to children, adults, and families.

Renovation began in May and is expected to be completed early 2025. The tax-exempt bond, purchased by CSB Colts Inc., an affiliate of Westfield Bank, helped Gándara achieve a lower cost of capital. The project also received a grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration.

 “Providers like Gándara Mental Health Center deliver essential services that strengthen individuals, families, and entire communities,” said Marcos Marrero, MassDevelopment’s deputy director and senior executive vice president. “We are pleased to be a continued resource for them as they evolve to expand their reach and impact, and we are happy to be a partner in helping Springfield’s North End thrive.”

Westfield Bank President and CEO James Hagan added that “supporting the best of our communities is one of our core values as a regional community bank. Gándara Mental Health Center is a crucial behavioral-healthcare resource, one that provides hope to people of all ages and lifts up the entire community. That is why we are proud to assist with the tax-exempt bond for their needed renovation.”

Founded in 1977 to advocate and provide for equal services in the Hispanic community, Gándara Mental Health Center delivers bilingual behavioral-health, substance-use, and preventive services for a diverse clientele of nearly 17,000 children, adults, and families each year in 100 locations across Massachusetts.

MassDevelopment has previously supported Gándara. In 2022, the agency issued a $4.3 million tax-exempt bond to help the organization buy and renovate a 13,200-square-foot office building at 933 East Columbus Ave. in Springfield to anchor its corporate offices.

“We are excited to expand our St. George Road outpatient clinic, increasing our capacity to serve more individuals and families,” Gándara CEO Lois Nesci said. “This additional space will enable us to provide even greater access to culturally sensitive treatment, creating a welcoming environment where our community members can find the support they need to thrive.”