On October 22, 2024, the River Falls Public Library received exciting news: we’ve been awarded a $4 million Flexible Facilities Program (FFP) grant! This grant, funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund through the American Rescue Plan of 2021, will enable us to make significant strides in modernizing our library. We are working with ISG Inc., a multi-disciplinary design and engineering firm, on the architectural plans. Public bidding on the construction will likely start between March and April 2025. Construction is slated to begin in July 2025, with anticipated completion in September 2026.
In light of this incredible development, we have updated our original capital campaign goals and timeline in partnership with Baker Street Consulting Group-Fundraising Services for Nonprofits. Our vision is to use the FFP grant as the cornerstone for transformative improvements to the library. While the grant will cover a substantial portion of our planned updates, we also plan a modest fundraising initiative to support additional enhancements that were not included in the grant but are essential to creating a vibrant, sustainable library for generations to come.
The updated capital campaign will focus on securing funding for enhancements like art installations, landscape improvements, and necessary contingency funds. Additionally, we aim to establish endowments, encourage planned giving and estate gifts, and strengthen the Library Foundation’s Annual Giving Program.
Our first meeting of the Capital Campaign Steering Committee is coming soon. Stay tuned here for more exciting updates!
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
- Tiffany Alexander
- Lorraine Davis
- Rebecca Ferguson
- Linda Jacobson
- Heather Johnson
- Tanya Misselt
- Alice Olson
- Dave Ostness