Thanks to grant funding, Wilton and New Ipswich plan to open community centers in the new year, and are hoping to establish a working model to outlast the short-term funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.
The New Hampshire Governor’s Council officially approved the funding, which will power the community spaces through the end of July, last week, along with grants for 40 other library projects across the state. The Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library was approved for a $26,387 grant, and New Ipswich for $30,853.
Administered through the New Hampshire State Library and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the grants from the American Rescue Plan Act awarded a total of $825,442 to promote improvements to library services throughout the state. Wilton and New Ipswich submitted requests with similar goals, with their top community need being space, according to library directors.
With approval in place, the libraries hope to partner with community venues to host a community center and provide space for meetings for community groups, and to start new programs they don’t have the room for in their current buildings.
The New Ipswich Library has partnered with the New Ipswich Recreation Department, in hopes the community center could provide the needed space for programs for both departments, including regular after-school care for children, vacation and snow-day camps and senior coffee hour. Originally, the library hoped to host the community center in the School Yard, a business complex on Turnpike Road, but that plan has fallen through, according to Library Director Michelle Pelletier. She and Recreation Director Shawna Kutyla are scouting for another potential location, with hopes the community center can still open its doors mid-January.
“It’s difficult, but we’re still hopeful,” Pelletier said.
In Wilton, the library has secured an agreement with Second Congregational Church, located near the library, to host a community meeting space, which would be run by a library employee. There is a long list of community organizations interested in using the space, as well as plans for a monthly teen night, jam and open mic nights, book discussions and a children’s science club through the library.
Pat Fickett, library director for Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library, said she hopes to be able to officially open the doors on the community center the week of Jan. 17.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity,” Fickett said. “This town has been looking for a community center for years, and just hasn’t been able to come up with the funding, a place or a mechanism to do it. My hope is that this pilot program shows what a valuable thing this could be for the town.”
While the grant funding will carry the community center through the first half of the year, Fickett said her goal is to get at least a full year of operations under the community center’s belt – and to that end, the library is requesting an additional $16,443 in funding through a warrant article, which will be before voters this March. The funding, she said, is to keep the community center in operation from July through December.
“At that point, I hope we’ll have the information to show that this really is a worthwhile endeavor for the town to support,” Fickett said.
The grant, in both cases, is enough to cover the costs of rental space and to pay to run programs through at least July, but both towns have plans to establish programs to be self-sufficient, in hopes that when the grant funding ends, the community centers can continue. The first half of the year is a chance to show the space is needed and that it will be used by the community.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.