The Red Cross says it chose the location because it is close to the city and near the growing corridor of service along Routes 290 and 495. "The new facility is centrally located in the Northeast and will allow the National Red Cross to place critical support resources and personnel closer to our field units," says Phillip Hansen, northeast service area executive.

The facility will include a disaster operations center, an emergency communications room and a large kitchen area and showers for disaster clients, emergency workers and volunteers. In addition, a Nurse Assistant Training and Health Services Wing will include multi-purpose classrooms and skills labs to accommodate the 35,000 people trained annually.

The American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts will be joined by the American National Red Cross Service Area headquarters. The National Service Area staff will provide guidance, coordinated disaster response and capacity building services to 152 Red Cross chapters in eight Northeastern states.