The expansion comes as the center has grown from essentially no staff to a corps of eight part-timers and a small army of volunteers. It also comes as the center has been bolstered by a $75,000 state earmark secured, board President Mary Jane McGlennon noted, by state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante and state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, both of Gloucester. The city has also continued its support with a $15,000 Community Development Block Grant.