Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Portage Public Library: Putting Together the Financial Pieces for Building Expansion

Link to May 11 Portage Daily News article, "If library expands, money might come from many sources".

Excerpt: If an addition is built onto the Portage Public Library, residents will see an intricate arrangement of concrete, masonry and metal take shape on West Edgewater Street. But before that can happen, an intricate arrangement of money, paperwork and people must take shape in meeting rooms and offices.

Some of the ways in which those latter pieces might fit together were made clearer during the library board's monthly meeting Tuesday.

The project, which could add 6,000 square feet to the building, is expected to cost as much as $1 million.

Space would come from an adjacent lot occupied by a vacant brick house built in 1865.

Money is one of the key pieces to expansion.

Library Director Shannon Stiller told the board that the Bidwell Foundation, a local nonprofit that has contributed matching funds for numerous civic projects, said it would be willing to make about $400,000 available for expansion. One of the foundation's three trustees reiterated the organization's interest Tuesday
.

Related articles:
Library seeks community input for expansion.  (1/13/2010)
Board discussion rental property options.  (11/11/2009)

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