Pawnee City Carnegie Public Library Receives Construction Grant

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) announced $4,517,700 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for projects in twenty communities and one county. “With the extreme belt tightening taking place nationwide, the funding of these critical infrastructure and development projects takes on even greater significance,” said Richard J. Baier, DED Director. “I’m pleased that the state continues to play a big role in helping communities actualize projects that are instrumental to their continued health, well being and future development.” Grants are administered by DED from the state’s annual allocation of CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The application and grant process is a partnership of DED, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and the Nebraska Departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Human Services. Funding for public works projects included one library construction project. Pawnee City will receive $350,000 to put toward construction of a new 6,500 sq. ft. public library. Built in 1907 and funded through the Carnegie grant program, the current library is approximately 2,000 sq. ft. A component of this project is addressing accessibility issues—the basement in the current building is accessible to patrons with disabilities, but the main floor is accessible only by an exterior staircase. What’s the latest news on the funding for the library construction project in your area? Click on Comments below to share library construction project funding.