A new community center is coming to West Hill.

The project received $2 million in federal funding from the federal American Rescue Plan.

City of Albany Common Council members Jahmel Robinson and Joyce Love brought the idea of a new community space in West Hill to Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

“People like to have a home,” said Sheehan. “They like to have a place that they can go to consistently, that they know what services they know they’re going to be able to get there.”

The $2 million will pay for design and land acquisition.

They hope to find a location and break ground within 18 months. The city is looking for community partners to team up with and host in the new space.

“Once you build a community center like this, thinking about all the different ways that it can be used is something that we really want to make sure that we’re planning for so that we can build something that is going to be for the ages and that won’t get taken away,” said Sheehan.

The council members will continue talks with residents to lock down the programs the center will provide.

Joyce Love is hoping for some much needed services for seniors.

“Bringing my seniors back out is very important to me because, especially in the last two years, most of our seniors have been stuck in the house, in the senior buildings without anything to do so this is very important to me, and plus, I’m a senior,” said Love.

Robinson remembers the impact the Arbor Hill Community Center had on him when he was a child.

“I can honestly truly say that if it wasn’t for the mentorship, it wasn’t for the sense of community from the community center, I would’ve been the person I am today,” said Robinson.

After advocating for funding since they were elected into office four years ago, the pair said securing this grant proves others who want to make a change in their community can.

“To finally be in a position after growing up in the same community, to make it happen, it’s literally a dream come true for me,” said Robinson.