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Library project gets $1.9 million boost
Monday, 15 June 2009 - 12:35pm
Library board chair Joyce Cunningham was thrilled to hear the news.
“We’re very happy that the grant has come through,” she said. “I think, as many people in town had realized, we had come to the conclusion that if the grant didn’t come through, the project was dead.
“And now it looks as if we have all the money we need to proceed, and I am very optimistic we will have that shovel in the ground very, very soon,” enthused Cunningham.
“We’ve have such wonderful support from the feds, the province, and we must not forget the donors that have contributed so heavily to the fundraising campaign,” she added.
Cunningham noted the library board also is grateful the proposed contractor—Aurora Construction—agreed to wait beyond the usual 60-day window given for a tender to be awarded after it closes to see if the project funding would come through.
Mayor Roy Avis said Friday he was “very, very ecstatic” to learn of the funding announcement.
“It is a real plus for us. We’ll be able to build that facility without even using any of the town money, it looks like,” he remarked.
“That’s what I like to see.
“I think now we will probably see it moving ahead,” the mayor added. “When you see it’s going to be built with senior government money, it’s a real plus for us.
“You have to thank the Harper government and the McGuinty government for giving us that type of funding.”
The mayor noted the Community Services executive committee will discuss the library project at its next meeting today, then make a recommendation to council, which will have the final say on awarding the contract.
Community Services manager George Bell noted the amount the town received was the amount applied for “and then some.”
Along with the $1.6 million from the Ministry of Culture, $437,692 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and more than $850,000 in pledges to the “Building for the Future” campaign, he added it covers the entire cost of the $4.7-million project.
“This means the amount of actual money coming from the tax coffers is going to be very limited because we won’t need it,” said Bell.
“We’re just ecstatic We’re ready to dig,” said chief librarian Margaret Sedgwick. “We couldn’t be happier.
“We’re amazed we got more than we applied for. . . . We’re going to have the library that we need, the space we need,” she stressed.
Among other district projects that received funding Friday are the Cain Road rehabilitation in La Vallee, Fisher Road rebuild in Emo, River Road upgrade in Dawson Township, and refurbishment of the municipal garage/fire hall in Rainy River.
By Duane Hicks, Staff writer
The new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre likely will be going ahead after all thanks to a funding announcement from the provincial and federal governments for more than $1.967 million came through Friday afternoon.
More than $2.85 million in “Building Canada” funding for district projects were announced, including $983,690 from the province and a matching $983,690 from the federal government for the construction of the new Fort Frances Public Library and Technology Centre.
“We’re very happy that the grant has come through,” she said. “I think, as many people in town had realized, we had come to the conclusion that if the grant didn’t come through, the project was dead.
“And now it looks as if we have all the money we need to proceed, and I am very optimistic we will have that shovel in the ground very, very soon,” enthused Cunningham.
“We’ve have such wonderful support from the feds, the province, and we must not forget the donors that have contributed so heavily to the fundraising campaign,” she added.
Cunningham noted the library board also is grateful the proposed contractor—Aurora Construction—agreed to wait beyond the usual 60-day window given for a tender to be awarded after it closes to see if the project funding would come through.
Mayor Roy Avis said Friday he was “very, very ecstatic” to learn of the funding announcement.
“It is a real plus for us. We’ll be able to build that facility without even using any of the town money, it looks like,” he remarked.
“That’s what I like to see.
“I think now we will probably see it moving ahead,” the mayor added. “When you see it’s going to be built with senior government money, it’s a real plus for us.
“You have to thank the Harper government and the McGuinty government for giving us that type of funding.”
The mayor noted the Community Services executive committee will discuss the library project at its next meeting today, then make a recommendation to council, which will have the final say on awarding the contract.
Community Services manager George Bell noted the amount the town received was the amount applied for “and then some.”
Along with the $1.6 million from the Ministry of Culture, $437,692 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and more than $850,000 in pledges to the “Building for the Future” campaign, he added it covers the entire cost of the $4.7-million project.
“This means the amount of actual money coming from the tax coffers is going to be very limited because we won’t need it,” said Bell.
“We’re just ecstatic We’re ready to dig,” said chief librarian Margaret Sedgwick. “We couldn’t be happier.
“We’re amazed we got more than we applied for. . . . We’re going to have the library that we need, the space we need,” she stressed.
Among other district projects that received funding Friday are the Cain Road rehabilitation in La Vallee, Fisher Road rebuild in Emo, River Road upgrade in Dawson Township, and refurbishment of the municipal garage/fire hall in Rainy River.
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