Kennebec Valley Community Action Program has received $50,000 through Spectrum Community Assist, the company’s five-year, $30 million philanthropic initiative to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training programs in rural and urban underserved communities where Spectrum operates, according to a news release from the telecommunications company.

Spectrum plans to kick off the partnership at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, with a revitalization event at the center at 101 Water St. in Waterville. Employees and community volunteers will provide repairs and other physical improvements to the facility. Waterville Mayor Joe Coelho, State Rep. Bruce White and Sen. Scott Cyrway plan to attend.

“Community centers like the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program are hallmarks of our neighborhoods, where people go for support, shared experiences and develop new job skills or find new employment,” said Rahman Khan, vice president of Community Impact for Charter Communications, Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of products. “Through our partnership, Spectrum Community Assist will help the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program provide essential employment training and resources to help the greater Waterville area with a safe and revitalized physical space.”

The program will receive $50,000 to be used to develop a job skills training program and facility improvement as Spectrum employee volunteers will spend the day landscaping, painting, and other interior and exterior projects. Additionally, because broadband is a critical component of a community center’s infrastructure, Spectrum will offer the program its 1 Gig service, at no charge, for the life of the program.

Additionally, Spectrum will donate 25 new laptops to support the organization’s training and technology programs. The program will also be dedicating their updated training and technology room with the Spectrum name.

“KVCAP is so thankful and honored to have been selected by Charter Communications as a partner in their Spectrum Community Assist initiative. This will help us to further our mission to strengthen individuals, families and communities,” said Suzanne Walsh, chief executive officer of the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program. “Their generous donation of funding as well as providing volunteers to beautify our center is a game changer. It makes a huge impact on what we can do to help those in need get the workforce supports that are critical to their success.”

Check out other upcoming area events!