Grants to Minnesota Public Library Systems and Local Governments to Construct and Improve Library Facilities

Library Construction Grants

Agency

State

GrantWatch ID#

146710

Funding Source

Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Geographic Focus

USA: Minnesota

Important Dates

Deadline: 04/09/21 3:30 PM CT

Grant Description

Grants to Minnesota library districts and systems and county and city governments for projects to enhance public libraries throughout the State. Funding is intended for capital projects for existing libraries or for projects to improve accessibility to sites and buildings.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) makes this state funding available to public library jurisdictions for renovation, construction and improvement projects that result in more accessible library facilities. Projects may remove architectural barriers from a library building or site, remediate conditions hazardous to health or safety, renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library, or construct a new library.

Accessibility Grants: Accessibility grants are for projects that remove architectural barriers from a building or site that is already in
use as a library or from an existing building that will be used as a library.
Renovation of an existing building may include an addition to the building if the additional space is necessary to
provide accessibility, or if relocating public spaces to the ground level would provide improved overall
accessibility.

Improvement Grants: Improvement grants are for projects that renovate or expand an existing building or construct a new building. Renovation may include projects that remediate conditions that are hazardous to health or safety.

Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Regional public library systems, regional library districts, cities, or counties operating libraries under Minnesota Statutes, section 134.001 are eligible to apply.

Accessibility grants may not be used to pay part of the cost of meeting accessibility requirements in a newly constructed building.

Pre-Application Information

Due Date: April 9, 2021, no later than 3:30 p.m. Central Time (Note: this is one week later than the original deadline as originally published)

Timeline:
- Publication date: January 4, 2021
- First question and answer period closes: February 8, 2021
- First question and answer document published: February 15, 2021
- Second question and answer period closed: March 22, 2021
- Second question and answer document published: March 29, 2021
- Completed applications due: April 9, 2021
- Anticipated date of grantee announcement: May 2021
- Anticipated date for the beginning of the grant: July 1, 2021

Written questions (second question and answer document): Questions must be submitted to the program contact through email by Monday, March 22, 2021, at 4:30 p.m., Central Time. A question and answer document will be published on the grant opportunity site after Monday, March 29, 2021.

Library Construction Grants require a dollar-for-dollar local match from non-state funds. A Library Construction Grant award cannot fund more than half of the project’s total costs and must be at or below the grant award maximums ($300,000 for Accessibility Grants and $1,000,000 for Improvement Grants).

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$2,951,000

Estimated Size of Grant

Maximum grant amount: $1,000,000 for improvement grants or $300,000 for accessibility grants

Term of Contract

MDE anticipates the start date will be after July 1, 2021. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2024, depending on the source of project funding.

Contact Information

Email applications to: mde.compgrants@state.mn.us

MDE’s Program Contact is available to provide additional information or answer questions.
Contact: Hannah Buckland
Division: State Library Services
Phone: (651) 582-8792
Email: hannah.buckland@state.mn.us

Contact Tim Larson at 651-582-8451 if you have questions about submission.

Grants to Minnesota Public Library Systems and Local Governments to Construct and Improve Library Facilities

Library Construction Grants

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