Congressman Marc Molinaro with Achieve employees and community leaders in the new Achieve facility. When completed, the facility will include nine day service rooms, an activity center, kitchens and a cafe for job skills training, a nursing station, a community center, and more. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — On Monday, December 18, Congressman Marc Molinaro visited the new Achieve facility, located at 96-100 East Main Street in Norwich.

Achieve is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide skill advancement, inclusion, independence, and socialization for individuals with developmental and other disabilities. They serve more than 2,200 individuals in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties.

The new facility is being built in a former CWS packaging plant, which shut its doors in 2021 after nearly 50 years of operation. The 24,000 square-foot renovation will create a 200 capacity, multi-purpose meeting space; a cafe and kitchen for job skills training; nine day service rooms; an activity center; a clinical services space; a nursing station; improved accessibility additions, including Hoyer lift systems; and a community center that will be open to the public.

During Monday’s tour, Achieve employees and other community representatives toured the in-progress facility with Congressman Molinaro to show how far the renovation has come and to explain their plans and hopes for the future.

Achieve CEO Amy Howard emphasized the organization’s focus on workforce training and occupational preparation for individuals with disabilities, which they will help foster through the construction of kitchens for a culinary arts program, and a cafe that will be open to the public.