CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS — Fifty-three after-school and out-of-school-time programs across Central, North Central and South Central Massachusetts are set to receive a total of $1.045 million for the 2026–2027 school year, according to United Way of Central Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is providing the funding. United Way of Central Massachusetts is working with United Way of North Central Massachusetts and United Way of South Central Massachusetts to distribute the grants.
The programs are expected to reach more than 7,000 young people from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The regional totals include 28 programs in Central Massachusetts, 16 in North Central Massachusetts and nine in South Central Massachusetts.
The Central Massachusetts recipient list names the City of Worcester’s Worcester Cares 4 Kids virtual babysitting program and a number of local organizations. Listed programs include African Community Education’s ACE After School Program; Friendly House Youth Programming; the Charles Houston Cultural Project’s Black Excellence Academy; Girls Inc. of Worcester’s Strong, Smart and Bold program; and Pernet Family Health Service’s youth program.
Other organizations and programs on the Central Massachusetts list include Apple Tree Arts’ youth theater and music program; Building Futures’ BFI/WHA Educational Learning Center; the George Marston Memorial Community Association’s WCC Youth Outreach; Guild of St. Agnes’ Worcester School Age Program; Joy of Music’s Jomp Up after-school and Saturday program; Pakachoag Music School’s Music Matters; Rainbow Child Development Center’s STEAM and literacy program; and the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts’ Youth Effect.
The list also includes Regional Environmental Council’s YouthGROW, Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Neighborhood Strings, Worcester Cultural Academy Charter Public School’s STEM Enrichment Program, Worcester Cultural Coalition’s Create 508 Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Worcester State Foundation’s ENLACE, Worcester Youth Orchestras’ after-school string program, and two programs from the YWCA Central Massachusetts.
The Worcester Community Action Council is also listed as a grant recipient. The specific programs shown under the council are East Brookfield Head Start Extended Hours and Southbridge Head Start Extended Hours.
YouthGROW connects Worcester teens with hands-on agriculture, environmental learning and leadership opportunities. Grace Sliwoski, associate executive director of the Regional Environmental Council, said the funding has been critical to the program’s after-school work and will support activities with young people in its new greenhouse space.
Across North Central Massachusetts, the recipient list includes programs from Ayer-Shirley Regional School District, Fitchburg Public Schools and the Town of Littleton, among others. South Central Massachusetts recipients include Old Sturbridge Village Academy and Southbridge Schools.
The $1.045 million is the total for the regional grants. The announcement does not state how much each program will receive. The full recipient lists identify programs by region, while enrollment information and available openings were not included.
Families can contact individual providers to ask about eligibility, schedules and enrollment. More information about YouthGROW is available from the Regional Environmental Council. United Way of Central Massachusetts can be reached at 508-757-5631.
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Project / Topic: 2026–2027 After School and Out of School Time grants.
Current Status: United Way says 53 programs will receive support and are expected to reach more than 7,000 young people. Recipient lists identify numerous Worcester-connected programs.
Key Dates or Decisions: Grants are for the 2026–2027 school year.
Estimated Cost: $1.045 million total, according to United Way. Individual grant amounts were not provided.
Timeline: 2026–2027 school year.
Immediate Next Steps: Families should contact providers directly for enrollment details.
Primary Sources: United Way of Central Massachusetts newsletter and recipient-list screenshots; Regional Environmental Council YouthGROW program page.
What We Do Not Yet Know: Individual award amounts, enrollment availability, and how many participants will be Worcester residents.
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