Bridgeport officials announced Friday that one of the city's biggest community centers, Hall Neighborhood House, is about to get a lot bigger.

Hall Neighborhood House Executive Director Bob Dzurenda says he got the surprise of a lifetime Friday when he learned that Hall Neighborhood House will be getting a $4.5 million grant to expand its services. He says the grant will enable the organization to serve double the numbers of young people it does now, and triple the size of its senior center.

"It's really going to help us grow capacity and every part of every family is going to benefit from it," said Dzurenda. "It feels good that the community has put their trust in us and we're going to be able to meet that commitment."

The local nonprofit is famous for services like daycare and dental care for people at every stage of life.

Angie McNeill is a familiar face on the East Side of Bridgeport. The 90-year-old says the key to happiness is to keep putting one foot in front of the other every single day - something she does at Hall Neighborhood House.

"Well, we get together and we talk, you know -- make jokes and play bingo," said McNeill.

Officials say the funding will be distributed through the state but that the money comes from the federal government.

"The lifeblood of the community is in the Hall Neighborhood House type of services for seniors, for children," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

McNeill says she couldn't be happier that Hall Neighborhood House will be growing.

The nonprofit plans to build a two-story addition on its existing property.