Library grant awarded

DUNKIRK — A state planning grant for more than $38,000 will help local officials determine the best option for expanding the city’s library, Mayor Ron Hunt announced Friday afternoon.
“We are pleased to inform you the Office of Community and Rural Affairs has approved your community’s application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under the planning grant program,” Indiana OCRA officials informed Hunt in a letter.
Dunkirk council members agreed to apply for the planning grant funds in July, following up on a suggestion by the city’s library board which voted to dip into its Rainy Day Fund account to provide the necessary matching grant money for the project.
The library board decided to supply up to $5,500 in matching grant funds.
According to OCRA, the total cost for the planning work will be just under $43,000 with the CDBG grant funds totaling $38,664 (90 percent) and the 10 percent local match coming in at $4,296.
  In requesting permission to apply for the grant, Dunkirk librarian and Glass Museum executive director Ailesia Franklin said the library is in desperate need of space for and its present collection of materials — not to mention space for future growth.
Addressing city council members last spring, Franklin said there were major space problems at both the library and adjacent Glass Museum.
“We are out of room in both areas,” Franklin said.
At that time, Franklin said the grant request must come from the council, as the library is a branch of city government.
Jay County Community Developer Ami Huffman assisted in the grant application process.
The Schneider Corporation, a consulting firm from Indianapolis, has been selected by city officials to help work on the library project.[[In-content Ad]]