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Capital Project Grant Funding Opportunities for Public Libraries

The Vermont Department of Libraries is administering two federal capital project grant opportunities for public libraries in Vermont:

$16.4M U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund for Libraries

Announcement of Grant Awards to Public Libraries: U.S. Department of the Treasury Capital Project Fund

In September of 2024, the Department announced that 14 Vermont libraries would receive a total of $15.9 million dollars in competitive grant monies with funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Read the press release, Vermont Department of Libraries Awards ARPA Treasury Funding to 14 Public Libraries.

View Capital Project Fund news highlights

Grant Recipients:

Library: Alice M. Ward Memorial Library
City: Canaan
County: Essex
Award: $900,000
Project: Interior renovations for ADA compliance and improved patron centered useability, new HVAC system, new windows

Library: Arvin A. Brown Public Library
City: Richford
County: Franklin
Award: $174,502
Project: Renovations to increase useable library space, new HVAC system, electrical system updates, new windows, and interior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Bennington Free Library
City: Bennington
County: Bennington
Award: $1,500,000
Project: Building envelope repairs with new windows and insulation, new HVAC system with electrical system updates

Library: Brandon Free Public Library Inc.
City: Brandon
County: Rutland
Award: $1,406,936
Project: Installation of four-story elevator with renovations and improvements for ADA compliance, repair or replace windows for energy efficiency

Library: Brooks Memorial Library
City: Brattleboro
County: Windham
Award: $1,472,501
Project: Asbestos abatement and building envelope repairs with interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Grand Isle Free Library
City: Grand Isle
County: Grand Isle
Award: $1,500,000
Project: New library building construction

Library: Groton Free Public Library
City: Groton
County: Caledonia
Award: $522,043
Project: Building expansion and envelope repairs with renovations for ADA compliance, new HVAC system

Library: Jeudevine Memorial Library
City: Hardwick
County: Caledonia
Award: $725,000
Project: Library expansion with two-story addition, four ADA compliant bathrooms, HVAC plumbing and electrical updates

Library: Johnson Public Library
City: Johnson
County: Lamoille
Award: $1,500,000
Project: Relocate building away from flood zone with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, construct an addition to existing building, renovations to egresses for ADA compliance

Library: Lawrence Memorial Library
City: Bristol
County: Addison
Award: $483,000
Project: New HVAC system, building envelope repairs for structural integrity, electrical and mechanical system updates

Library: Leach Public Library
City: Irasburg
County: Orleans
Award: $1,082,750
Project: Library expansion with two-story addition, new elevator, ADA compliant bathroom, and new HVAC system

Library: Middletown Springs Public Library
City: Middletown Springs
County: Rutland
Award: $1,293,384
Project: Renovate and upgrade library building infrastructure at new library site

Library: Salisbury Free Public Library
City: Salisbury
County: Addison
Award: $978,807
Project: Repair or replace HVAC system, new plumbing system, potable water, interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Wilder Memorial Library
City: Weston
County: Windsor
Award: $650,000
Project: Building expansion and envelope repairs, new HVAC and plumbing systems, electrical system updates, and new ADA compliant bathroom

Overview:

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Funds (CPF) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, provides $10 billion for payments to eligible governments to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Through this program, the Department of Libraries will administer $16.4 million in Capital Project funds toward capital improvements to Vermont’s public libraries.

The State of Vermont allocated $16.4 million of its U.S. Treasury ARPA CPF toward capital improvements to Vermont’s public libraries.

Through this program, the Department of Libraries will administer $16.4 million in CPF toward capital improvements to Vermont’s public libraries.

Goal:

To address critical building improvements to ensure Vermonters have continued access to high-speed Internet to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring at their local public libraries.

Timeline:

  • January 30, 2024 through March 12, 2024: Grant application period for the U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund for Libraries
  • September 2024: Grant awards announced
  • December 31, 2026: End of the period of performance for all U.S. Treasury Capital Project Funds

    Resources for Grant Recipients:

    Federal Guidelines:

    Department of Library Resources:

    Resources for Grant Applicants:

    Email Contact:

    Media Contact:

    • Communications & Administrative Coordinator Lilly Talbert | 802-249-4055

    $10M Public Facilities Preservation Initiative Grants

    The Vermont Department of Libraries' $10M for Public Facilities Preservation Initiative Grants for small, rural public libraries in Vermont is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through their FY2023 Economic Initiative Community Project Funding program.

    This funding was made possible by the support of Senator Leahy, who included the Department’s proposal in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. 

    The Department's grant application for these funds will be open to all rural and small public libraries in Vermont with the exception of public libraries that received specific, individual earmarks for support through the Congressionally Directed Spending process.

    Goal:

    To provide resources to address repair and mitigation needs in small, rural public libraries that also serve as community meeting spaces and public facilities, with a focus on economically depressed areas.

    Timeline:

    • 2025: The Department will launch the competitive grant application with a webinar
    • August 31, 2031: End of the period of performance for all Public Facilities Preservation Initiative grants

    Resources:

    Email Contact:

    Please direct any questions to LIB.VTLIBCapitalGrants@vermont.gov

    Stay Informed:

    Communications about the Capital Projects Grants will be shared with Vermont’s public library community via our three main listservs: lib.staff, lib.trustee, and VTLibraries.

    The Department of Libraries has also created a listserv dedicated to capital projects updates: lib.capitalgrants@list.vermont.gov. To join this listserv, please complete this form.

    (Updated 9/30/2024)