WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester City Manager Eric Batista said his administration is working with state and federal leaders on the possibility of a migrant welcome center in central Massachusetts.

Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency earlier this month, asking for help to house a growing number of migrants arriving in Massachusetts.

Four migrant welcome centers have been established so far, but Batista said they are mainly in the eastern part of the state.

Batista said the city is turning to local hotels to help house roughly 45 migrant families. He said Worcester’s numbers are lower than in some other communities, but the need is still great.

"It's more of a triage center where people can come in, people can connect them to services, write down what are their needs, what are the things they're needing at the time, whether it is housing, whether it is medical assistance, etc.” Batista said. “And then try to refer them out to agencies or different places across the state."

Batista said a welcome center near Worcester would be beneficial for the western part of the state as well.