237442S
IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, WASHAKIE COUNTY COMPLETED RENOVATION OF THE FORMER KENNEDY ACE HARDWARE BUILDING TO CREATE A NEW LIBRARY THAT WAS VASTLY IMPROVED FROM ITS PREVIOUS BUILDING, WITH A WIDE OPEN, FLEXIBLE AND EFFICIENT LAYOUT, NEARLY DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS SQUARE FOOTAGE, EASILY VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE LOCATION DOWNTOWN, AND FULLY MODERN AMENITIES (SEE ATTACHED OVERHEAD VIEW). KEY FEATURES INCLUDED A MAKERSPACE, MULTIPLE AREAS WITH PUBLIC COMPUTERS, ADDITIONAL STATIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERSÂ PERSONAL COMPUTERS, PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS AND CO-WORKING SPACES, A DEDICATED CHILDRENÂ S AREA, A TEEN AREA, AND A LARGE MEETING ROOM WITH ATTACHED KITCHEN. IT IS A QUIET YET SPACIOUS, MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL INTERESTS AND WALKS OF LIFE. HOWEVER, THIS NEW LIBRARY BUILDING CAME AT A CRITICAL TIME IN THE COMMUNITY, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HIGHLIGHTING EVEN GREATER NEED THAN COULD HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATED. AS RENOVATION BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2020, WASHAKIE COUNTY WAS JUST BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE SHIFTING DYNAMICS THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, AND BY THE TIME THE NEW FACILITY OPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, A VASTLY CHANGED COMMUNITY EAGERLY AWAITED ITS NEW LIBRARY. WHILE IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE BEAUTIFUL, EXPANDED SPACE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE LOCATION WOULD ATTRACT GREATER NUMBERS THAN HAD THE PREVIOUS BUILDING, DEMAND ON THE LIBRARY HAS INCREASED EVEN MORE THAN ANTICIPATED DUE TO THE CHANGING WAYS THE PUBLIC HAS COME TO DEPEND ON THE LIBRARY. TO START, ADULT NEEDS FOR THE LIBRARY HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY, STARTING WITH ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY. IN WASHAKIE COUNTY LIBRARYÂ S COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY, 70.4% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THAT AFTER COVID-19, MORE OF THEIR HEALTH, WORK, AND/OR EDUCATIONAL NEEDS REQUIRE MORE INTERNET (WI-FI) ACCESS. WHEN RENOVATED, THE NEW LIBRARY INDEED WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER WORK-RELATED RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING KEY FEATURES SUCH AS A BUSINESS CENTER WITH PRINTER/SCANNER/FAX ACCESS, MULTIPLE AREAS WITH PUBLIC COMPUTERS, A JOB INFORMATION CENTER, ADDITIONAL STATIONS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERSÂ PERSONAL COMPUTERS, COMFORTABLE SEATING AREAS WITH POWER AND INTERNET ACCESS, AND OF COURSE FREE WI-FI. SPACES ARE ALSO INCLUDED FOR CO-WORKING AND TRAININGS, AND ALL ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN EASY PROXIMITY TO THE WASHAKIE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (WDA) AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICES ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. NO OTHER FACILITY IN WASHAKIE COUNTY IS SUCH AN IDEAL HUB FOR WORK-RELATED RESOURCES, AND THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED WITH EXACTLY THAT AS A MAJOR PRIORITY. BUT THE INCREASE OF LIBRARY USAGE IN THE NEW FACILITY WAS GREATLY UNDERESTIMATED, PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID-19.
Washakie County Wyoming
Formula Grant CPFFN0188
$2.1m 12/12/24 237435S
WHILE THE UINTA COUNTY LIBRARY SUPPORTS HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL GOALS WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY, THE LIBRARY INCREASES THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE MATERIALS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED. THIS WAS MADE VERY CLEAR DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WHEN THE LIBRARY WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR SIX WEEKS BY DECREE OF THE WYOMING STATE GOVERNOR. DURING THAT TIME, THE LIBRARY STAFF PROVIDED CURBSIDE SERVICE FOR CHECKING BOOKS IN AND OUT, PRINTING VIA EMAIL FOR PATRONS, AND FREE 24/7 WI-FI OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS AN ONLINE "STORYTIME" FOR CHILDREN. HOWEVER ALMOST EVERY PATRON EXPRESSED HOW MUCH THEY MISSED BEING ABLE TO BROWSE THE BOOKSHELVES, USE THE COMPUTERS, OR JUST RELAX WITH NEWSPAPERS OR FRIENDS. THE CONCEPT OF POOR VENTILATION WAS VERY UNNERVING DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. HOW, WE WONDERED, CAN WE KEEP OUR STAFF AND PATRONS SAFE FROM AIR-BORNE VIRUSES? PROPER VENTILATION AND AIR DISTRIBUTION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR GOOD HEALTH IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS. THE LIBRARY VENTILATION SYSTEM IS BOTH ANTIQUATED AND INADEQUATE FOR THE BUILDING. UPDATING THE HVAC SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE CLEAN, FILTERED, TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED AIR IN THE LIBRARY. THIS WOULD IMPROVE BOTH AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH. THE EXISTING FIBERBOARD DUCTING IS DISINTEGRATING AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CURRENT SYSTEM LACKS GOOD AIR EXCHANGE. AND UNLIKE NEWER SYSTEMS, IT DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO USE UV SANITATION LIGHTS TO DISINFECT THE BUILDING'S AIR. AS SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES HAVE NO VENTILATION, RENOVATING THE HVAC SYSTEM IS AN ESSENTIAL PROJECT IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, BEING INDOORS INCREASE THE RISK OF INFECTION, PARTICULARLY IN INDOOR SPACES LIKE THE UINTA COUNTY LIBRARY WHERE THE VENTILATION IS INADEQUATE. THE UINTA COUNTY LIBRARY IS LOCATED IN A BUILDING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A SUPERMARKET, AND AS SUCH IT WAS NOT VENTED TO ALLOW EVEN HEATING AND COOLING THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC SPACES. THE LIBRARY'S MEETING ROOMS AND RESTROOMS WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT TO SERVE AS COUNTY COURT ROOMS AND OFFICES IN THE LATE 1970S, WHEN ADDITIONS TO THE COURTHOUSE WERE BEING CONSTRUCTED. AS THERE IS ONLY ONE HVAC UNIT FOR THAT ENTIRE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. MUCH OF THIS AREA IS UNCOMFORTABLY COLD IN THE WINTER WHICH CAN LAST SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR. THIS MAKES THE LIBRARY UNINVITING AND POSSIBLY UNHEALTHY TO SOME PATRONS. IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR PATRONS TO COMPLETE EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS, OR WORK AND HEALTH TASKS WHEN THEY ARE SHIVERING. PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES, SMALL CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY ARE ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO COLD.
County Of Uinta
Formula Grant CPFFN0188
$1.4m 12/12/24 244596S
AS A 4-YEAR RURAL COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CENTRAL WYOMING COLLEGE (CWC) OPERATES AN EDUCATIONAL/COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER IN JACKSON, WY. CWC-JACKSON, AS IT IS KNOWN, HAS BEEN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES IN TETON COUNTY, WYOMING FOR OVER 45 YEARS. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN THAT TETON COUNTY, WY HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE RICHEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT THIS DESIGNATION MASKS IS A COMMUNITY OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, RANCHERS, SERVICE WORKERS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, TRADESPEOPLE, NONPROFIT WORKERS, ARTISTS, TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, ETC., THAT ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY THRIVING. OVER 16% OF THE COUNTY IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC/LATINX, 11% OF THE POPULATION IS FOREIGN BORN, OVER 18% SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME. CWC-JACKSON SERVES ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. THE GOAL OF THIS PORTION OF THE PROPOSAL IS TO ASSIST IN THE FUNDING OF A 20,000+ SQ FT NEW FACILITY FOR CWC - JACKSON. THIS FACILITY WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THE COLLEGEÂ S MASTER PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS FUNDING WOULD ALLOW FOR THE EDUCATION OF MORE SKILLED WORKERS IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS OTHER IDENTIFIED AREAS OF IMPORTANCE FOR TETON COUNTY AND BEYOND. IMPORTANTLY IT WOULD ALLOW FOR ACCESS BY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET IN A WELCOMING PUBLIC SPACE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HEALTH SCREENINGS THROUGH CWCÂ S HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS. THIS TYPE OF HEALTHCARE SCREENINGS BOTH SERVES THE PUBLIC BUT ALSO PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING TO STUDENTS.
Central Wyoming College
Formula Grant CPFFN0188
$12.4m 11/20/24 237125S
POWELL NEEDS A NEW LIBRARY. THE WLMCF GRANT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO BUILD A NEW LIBRARY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF POWELL, ONE THAT WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SPACE TO ENABLE THE PARK COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM (PCLS) TO MEET CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF WORK, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH MONITORING. AS HIGHLIGHTED IN A MAY 2019 PROFESSIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT, THE CURRENT LIBRARY IS  INADEQUATE IN EVERY WAY. POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC COMMUNITY NEEDS HAVE ONLY EXACERBATED THE LIBRARY S INABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY DUE TO A LACK OF SPACE, A DEFICIENCY THIS PROJECT WILL CORRECT. THE PCLS STAFF HAS A PROVEN RECORD OF MEETING CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS: ITS CODY LIBRARY WAS NAMED HONORABLE MENTION IN LIBRARY JOURNAL S 2023 BEST RURAL SMALL LIBRARY IN AMERICA. THE STAFF KNOWS WHAT IS NEEDED TO FULFILL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WORK COMMUNITY REQUIREMENTS AND HAS THE EXPERIENCE, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ABILITY TO MEET AND EXCEED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS. THE CURRENT POWELL LIBRARY OF 9,000 SQ. FT. OF USABLE SPACE, HAS ONLY ONE MEETING ROOM, WHICH IS SMALL WITH INADEQUATE LIGHTING. IT LACKS QUIET AREAS AND INDIVIDUAL STUDY ROOMS, HAS LIMITED PUBLIC COMPUTER ACCESS, AND FEW CHARGING OUTLETS FOR PERSONAL DEVICES. THUS, THE EXISTING FACILITY CAN SUPPORT MINIMAL INDEPENDENT WORK IN THE LIBRARY FOR WORKFORCE, EDUCATIONAL, AND HEALTH NEEDS, SUCH AS INTERVIEWS, TESTING, AND REMOTE LEARNING. THE CHILDREN S SPACE IS SMALL AND INADEQUATE FOR STORYTIME AND PROGRAMMING, WITH NO POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF AGES, MATERIALS, OR SEATING. THE POWELL LIBRARY HAS NO SEPARATE TEEN AREA DESPITE BEING A MAGNET FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AFTER THE NEARBY SCHOOL CLOSES EACH DAY. BECAUSE OF THE RESULTING HEAVY TEEN PRESENCE, THE LIBRARY IS EFFECTIVELY CLOSED TO OTHER AGE GROUPS DURING AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS. THE PROJECT CALLS FOR DEMOLISHING THE CURRENT POWELL LIBRARY AND EXPANDING AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION TO 14,000 SQ. FT. WITH 4 STUDY/WORK ROOMS, 2 CONFERENCE ROOMS, AND A LARGER, TECHNOLOGY EQUIPPED MEETING ROOM. IT WILL BE A WELCOMING FACILITY FOR ALL DEMOGRAPHICS WITH SPACE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL DISTANCING, PROGRAMMING, MATERIALS, AND QUIET AREAS TO ENABLE WORK, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH MONITORING, INCLUDING A TELEHEALTH BOOTH. THE NEW LIBRARY WILL ALSO PROVIDE UPDATED TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH MORE PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN OUTLETS FOR PEOPLE TO USE THEIR OWN DEVICES. THE POWELL LIBRARY WILL REMAIN OPEN DURING THE DEMOLITION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PHASES, MOVING TO TEMPORARY QUARTERS WHILE PROVIDING MATERIALS AND PROGRAMMING. THROUGH SOCIAL AND PRINT MEDIA, THE PUBLIC WILL BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT. DEMOLITION WILL BEGIN SEPTEMBER 2024 WITH AN OPENING IN MAY 2026. THE PROJECTED COST OF THE POWELL LIBRARY PROJECT IS $13,027,142 AND PCLS IS ASKING FOR THE GRANT AMOUNT OF $12.6 MILLION.
County Of Park
Formula Grant CPFFN0188
$16.9m 9/25/24 237828S
THE ACPL MULTI-PURPOSE SPACES PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO STRATEGICALLY ADAPT LIBRARY PUBLIC USE SPACES TO ASSIST THE ALBANY COUNTY COMMUNITY IN ADJUSTING TO THE Â NEW NORMALÂ FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC. AT THE LARAMIE BRANCH, ACPL WILL RENOVATE TWO EXISTING SPACES AND DEVELOP ONE NEW SPACE WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL, USABLE SPACE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND SERVICES RELATED TO WORK, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH-MONITORING. COVID-19 UPENDED CRITICAL STRUCTURES, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS CHANGES TO EVERYDAY LIFE IN ALBANY COUNTY. THESE CHANGES HAVE NOT DISSIPATED, AND ACPLÂ S CURRENT MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE STRUCTURE IS UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC-RELATED NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMUNITY. ACPLÂ S PROJECT WILL ALLOW THE LIBRARY TO BETTER ADDRESS WORK-RELATED NEEDS, SUCH AS THE ABILITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO FIND AND RETAIN AN OCCUPATION THAT MEETS THEIR VALUES. BETWEEN 2019-2022, NEARLY 9 MILLION WORKERS SWITCHED OCCUPATIONS. THESE MASSIVE OCCUPATION CHANGES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO DECLINE, AS 1 IN 4 1 U.S. WORKERS ARE PREPARING TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.2 ALBANY COUNTY HAS A SIMILAR OUTLOOK, WITH EXTENSIVE OCCUPATION CHANGES. THIS STEMS FROM WORKERS BEING WILLING TO SWITCH POSITIONS DUE TO ADVANCEMENT CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITH WORK-LIFE BALANCE. OFTEN THIS INVOLVES WANTING A FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 3,793 ALBANY COUNTY WORKERS WHO COMMUTE FOR WORK. ALBANY COUNTY RESIDENTS ALSO NEED BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDCARE. 3 DURING THE PANDEMIC, 10% OF WYOMING CHILDREN HAD A FAMILY MEMBER WHO MADE A JOB CHANGE DUE TO CHILDCARE ISSUES, WITH AN INCREASE TO 15% FOR SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.4 OCCUPATION CHANGES ARE NOT THE SOLE WORK CHALLENGE IN THE COMMUNITY. ALBANY COUNTYÂ S HIGH POPULATION OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS CREATES A BARRIER WHEN ENGAGING IN WORK. OFTEN THESE WORKERS STRUGGLE TO DEVELOP WORKPLACE SKILLS AND APPLY FOR JOBS BECAUSE THEY ARE UNSURE WHERE TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION OR ARE UNCOMFORTABLE VISITING WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. FOR A LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUAL ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS, ANY OBSTACLE TO EMPLOYMENT CAN BE DETRIMENTAL. LASTLY, WHILE THE COUNTY HAS AN EMPLOYMENT RATE OF 96.7%, WORKPLACES ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY 5 HIRING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY IN ENTRY-LEVEL, OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE, AND RETAIL POSITIONS. THIS ISSUE BEGAN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HAS NOT DIMINISHED. A CITY OF LARAMIE STUDY NOTED THAT COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN TRAINING PROVIDERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS NEED TO STRENGTHEN TO ENHANCE WORKFORCE AND INDUSTRY ALIGNMENT AND TO SUPPORT TALENT RETENTION.6 ACPL CAN SERVE WORK-RELATED NEEDS DIRECTLY OR AS A PARTNER BY UPDATING ITS SPACES. ACPL NEEDS FLEXIBLE SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR WORKSHOPS, JOB INTERVIEWS, AND VARIOUS TRAINING SESSIONS. IT ALSO NEEDS SPACE TO BE USED AS A TEMPORARY COMPUTER LAB. WITH THE CURRENT SPACE SETUP, ROOM FLEXIBILITY IS CHALLENGING.
None
Formula Grant CPFFN0188
$1.0m 4/8/24