Needs Assessment
The Department of Libraries conducted a Capital Projects Needs Assessment from Tuesday, February 28 through April 15, 2023. The needs assessment was extended but is now closed.
Needs Assessment Goal: In the short term, information provided by libraries through the Needs Assessment is used to inform Department staff as we build the two federal capital grants programs that the Department will administer. In the longer term, information provided in the Needs Assessment may also be used by the Department to understand future funding and resource needs. Importantly, the information gathered through the Needs Assessment is utilized by the Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont, which is tasked with studying library facilities.
Needs Assessment Webinar: Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from 2-3:30pm
Webinar recording
Webinar PowerPoint (PDF updated 3/3/23)
Needs Assessment Presentation - Vermont Library Conference: Monday, April 4, 2023
State Librarian Catherine Delneo shared information about the two federal capital grants opportunities the Department will administer with the library community and Assistant State Librarian Janette Shaffer walked attendees through the Needs Assessment. Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions following each segment of the presentation.
Important note: The Needs Assessment is not a grant application. That said, we strongly recommend that all public libraries with known capital improvement projects complete the Needs Assessment so that the Department can have a good sense of the capital projects that may seek funding.
(Updated 2/22/23)
Upcoming Capital Project Grant Funding Opportunities
The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to announce the following two upcoming federal capital project grant opportunities:
- $16.4M U.S. Treasury Capital Projects Fund for Libraries
The American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) Capital Projects Funds provides $10 billion for payments to eligible governments to carry out critical capital projects in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The State of Vermont has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Treasury to grant $16.4 million of our state's Capital Project funds toward capital improvements to Vermont’s public libraries to be administered by the Vermont Department of 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.
Current Status: The State has received confirmation of the grant award and guidance documents. The Department plans to launch a grant application for these funds in Fall 2023.
Timeline: All funds must be expended by December 31, 2026, which is the end of the period of performance.
Printable U.S. Treasury Capital Project Fund for Libraries flier (PDF)
- $10M Public Facilities Preservation Initiative Grants
On December 23, 2022, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, an omnibus spending bill consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills. The bill contains more than $212 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) included by Sen. Leahy, for 38 projects across Vermont. The Vermont Department of Libraries' $10M for Public Facilities Preservation Initiative Grants to be available for the state’s small, rural public libraries is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through their FY2023 Economic Initiative Community Project Funding program. https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/CPD/documents/2023-CPF-Grant-Guide-Award-Instructions-Version-1.0.pdf
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.
Current Status: The Department has received the grant award letter and preliminary guidance documents from HUD. The Department plans to launch a grant application for these funds in Fall 2023.
Timeline: HUD has established August 31, 2031, as the end date of the period of performance and budget period for all FY2023 CPF grants.
Timeline for grant opportunities
The Department of Libraries will launch a competitive grant process through which Vermont communities can access both sets of federal funding to support capital improvements to their local public library.
Our goal is to support communities in successfully accessing both the U.S. Treasury ARPA funds and Congressionally Directed Spending funds for which their public library is eligible. We aim to have one application process for both grant opportunities.
Upon finalizing the grant application materials and process, the Department of Libraries will share the application process and timeline via a webinar for public library staff and trustees.
A Needs Assessments will launch on February 28, 2023 and will be open for public libraries to complete through April 15, 2023 (extended from March 31, 2023).
The application for grant funds will launch following the completion of the Needs Assessment in fall of 2023.
Get Ready!
If you haven’t already, you should start working on advancing your capital project. The more pieces you have in place by the time the application opens, the better. Prepare to apply for these transformative grants by reviewing the capital project-related resources VTLIB has assembled for you:
Questions?
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 new listserv dedicated to capital projects updates: lib.capitalgrants@list.vermont.gov
To join this listserv, please complete this form.