PACE was incorporated as a private non-profit Community Action Agency in 1982 in response to needed services in the Greater New Bedford Area. A twenty-one member Board of Directors was established as a result of a number of meetings held in the community for the purpose of forming a new Agency.  This new Board of Directors elected its first President; Kenneth N. DeSilva, who remained as President for the maximum period allowed under the Boards’ bylaws of ten years. The infant organization of limited funds and staff in 1982, grew within five years into a multi-million dollar agency.  It’s focus was to promote self help for people and neighborhoods.

Today, PACE operates more than nineteen programs with a budget of over thirty-five million dollars annually and 200 employees. The needs of our clients in an economically disadvantaged area of the state are numerous. We have attempted to address the problems that low income people face in the Greater New Bedford Area through our Programs. People Acting in Community Endeavors began from a need to assist the low income of our community and now assists more than 40,000 individuals annually. Public services to the non-low income sector are provided as well through seminars, workshops and health access programs.  The need is great and the resources are small.

The Agency is always looking for additional resources to assist our clients.  Some of the resources that existed twenty years ago no longer are available, although the client base is ever increasing.