Project Update
By: Patrick Finney - 03/08/2007        

The project to relocate the Washington Free Public Library to the south side of the square has come a long way since its inception in 2004.   As of March 2007 the Library Foundation has received more than $1,000,000 in private pledges from individuals and businesses.   Added to the $1,000,000 grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, the $30,000 commitment from Washington County and previous Foundation assets, we now have almost $2.5 million in pledges, donations and grants toward the project!   We have come a long way, but we still have a way to go.

By the end of March 2007 the Washington Public Library, with the support and cooperation of the City of Washington will have submitted an application for a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant to the Iowa Department of Economic Development's Vision Iowa Board.   It is our hope to be awarded a grant from this board of about $1,000,000 during the summer of 2007.   We will also submit a grant request in the amount of $60,000 to the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust.

As hopeful as we are about our chances to receive these grants and as thankful as we are for the generous support we have received so far, it is important to realize that we are still seeking pledges of monetary support from private individuals and businesses.   Our fund raising effort will continue, and in fact accelerate, through the spring and summer of 2007 prior to an expected bond referendum in late summer.

The Public Library, the Library Foundation and the City of Washington continue to work in cooperation to take care of all of the details regarding financing and planning for demolition and construction.   As soon as details regarding any aspect of the project are worked our you can be assured that we will share them with the general public.

That said we remain on schedule.   We hope to have all the money needed to move forward by the end of summer 2007.   If we are successful in meeting this goal, we expect to proceed with demolition during the fall and winter, with construction to begin in spring 2008.