New Library & Community Center Updates

Walls are up. Yay!

The snow is not slowing down progress at the new library site. A few building committee members visited the site and had a tour with Devin, our project site manager. The walls are poured, geothermal wells are underway and the water well will be drilled soon. Things continue to move forward and electricians and plumbers will begin work in the near future.

Alma Public Library was awarded $20,000 toward our new library’s solar project as a part of Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation’s Solar Moonshot Program.

These funds will be used to help the Alma Public Library to reduce its carbon footprint and save money on its electric bills that can be reinvested back into the community through library collections, resources, and programs.

Thank you Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation for this generous support!

Alma Public Library was awarded a Solar for Good grant through RENEW Wisconsin and the Couillard Foundation. Forty panels of the new library’s 80 panel array will be provided through this grant.

As a part of this award, the library will receive support and guidance and is committed to hosting educational opportunities for community members to learn more about solar energy.

Thank you RENEW Wisconsin and the Couillard Foundation!

Alma Public Library was awarded a Riverland Energy Community Cares Grant to be used toward bird-safe window initiatives at the new library.

As a designated Bird City, Alma and the new library hope to partner with organizations and individuals to prevent as many bird deaths as possible. Full bird-safe glass windows are estimated at around $30,000, so the library is pursuing grants and external funding to make this possible. If total funding falls short, additional options will be explored to safeguard the local bird population.

Anyone with leads on grant or other funding opportunities—or who would like to assist with this effort—can contact Library Director Laura Pettersen.

Earthwork has begun on site, with plans for footings and foundation work in early November.

The City of Alma – Alma Public Library was awarded a $19,134.03 grant from the Winding Rivers Library System Solar Library Grant program in support of the new library’s solar energy project.

The grant was presented at the October 16 Alma City Council meeting with Mayor Richard Champeny, Library Director Laura Pettersen, and Library Board of Trustees Vice President Shelly Cherry.

Solar energy will be installed as part of the new library, serving as a sustainable and efficient energy source. Additional grant funding is being sought to reduce the solar project cost by up to 95%.

The Winding Rivers Library System Solar Library Grant program was established by a generous donor to support renewable energy capital projects in member libraries. To contribute or learn more, contact Jessica Schoonover, Project and Grants Manager, Winding Rivers Library System, at 608-709-0588.

The construction trailer is onsite, fencing is up, and equipment is arriving. Tree removal and earth work were scheduled to begin before October 17.