MVSB supports Lakes Region Community Developers Gale School redevelopment project

BELMONT — Meredith Village Savings Bank recently purchased $10,000 in tax credits from Lakes Region Community Developers through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority to support their efforts in the Gale School Redevelopment Project at 60 Concord Street in Belmont Village.

The Gale School was built in 1894, and was used by the Belmont School District until the mid-1980s when it was vacated. Since then, the empty building has stood vacant and fallen into disrepair. In 2017 it was selected as one of New Hampshire’s Seven to Save and in 2018 was named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.

In July 2020, the building was successfully moved by the local Save Our Gale School Committee to its new location at 60 Concord Street in Belmont. Lakes Region Community Developers agreed to partner with SOGS to redevelop the building and, once funding for renovations have been secured, SOGS will donate the land and building to LRCD and the Gale School will become part of LRCD’s real estate portfolio.

The newly renovated community facility is expected to host a child care center operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH and a Lakes Region Community Services Program Center. The child care center will add 35 new child care slots to the Lakes Region and the Program Center will serve over 100 families.

“We are grateful to Meredith Village Savings Bank for supporting our efforts to revitalize the Gale School as the project will save a beautiful piece of history, while providing affordable space for the Boys & Girls Club and Lakes Region Community Services to expand their programming, “ said Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of LRCD.

“Access to quality childcare and other support services is critical to the health of our communities,” said Rick Wyman, President of MVSB. “We are proud to partner with Lakes Region Community Developers to provide support for the Gale School Redevelopment Project and their plans to restore this historic building and give it such a worthy new purpose.”

To learn more, visit any of the local branch offices located in Alton, Ashland, Center Harbor, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth or Wolfeboro, call 800-922-6872 or visit mvsb.com.