Civic and Community Center Grant - 2014
FINAL APPLICATION FORM
FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE FROM
THE CIVIC AND COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCING FUND
A. Information Obtained on Preliminary Application Form
Municipality Applying for Grant:
City of Blair, Nebraska
Center for Which Grant Requested:
The Blair Library and Technology Center
Amount of Grant Request:
375,000.00
B. The purpose of the Civic and Community Center Financing Act is to support the
development of civic, community, and recreation centers throughout Nebraska and to support
projects that foster maintenance or growth of communities. Please check (mark with X or √ in
shaded box) one of the following definitions that best describes the center for which grant
assistance is being requested.
Civic center—a facility that is primarily used to host conventions, meetings, and
X
cultural events and a library. A civic center therefore includes space for conventions,
meetings, and cultural events and/or a library.
Community center—the traditional center of a community, typically comprised of a
___
cohesive core of residential, civic, religious, and commercial buildings, arranged
around a main street and intersecting streets. A community center is therefore an
area of multiple buildings with both internal and external elements. A civic center may
or may not be in a community center.
Recreation center—a facility used for athletics, fitness, sport activities, or recreation
___
that is owned by a municipality and is available for use by the general public with or
without charge. Recreation center down not include any facility that requires a
person to purchase a membership to utilize such facility.
C. One of the criteria for evaluating grant applications is the likelihood of the project retaining
existing residents in the community where the project is located, developing, sustaining, and
fostering community connections, and enhancing the potential for economic growth in a
manner that will sustain the quality of life and promote long-term economic development. In
the shaded box below, or in an attachment of no more than one page, provide data and/or an
explanation showing the likelihood of the project retaining existing residents.
Public libraries are logical partners for local economic development initiatives that focus on people and
quality of life. The proposed new Library and Technology Center will serve as the focal point of the City of
Blair’s s future infrastructure development by providing a wide range of information and technology
services and support for diverse constituencies. Local businesses are increasingly tapping into the
library’s online database to keep themselves competitive and to find synergistic new business
opportunities. Library facilities often anchor downtown and commercial developments and are attractive
neighborhood amenities. Public libraries build a community’s capacity for economic activity and resiliency
therefore providing the nucleus needed to help retain the residents of the community. There is a growing
body of research that notes a shift in the role of public libraries – from passive, recreational reading and
research institutions to active economic development agents.
Community libraries serve as a trusted public space and give value to people wanting to live and work
within the community. People believe libraries are places of opportunity for education, self-help, and
offer access to all. Library resources and programs contribute capacity to local strategies that seek to
strengthen human capital, reduce service costs to complementary local agencies, and broaden the reach
of local partner organizations
The proposed Library and Technology Center will add value to the City’s neighborhoods and provide
valuable meeting spaces for the various civic organizations that residents look to for quality of life. The
Library and Technology Center will support personal productivity and cultural engagement. The library
will be a safe, important, and central public space. Great libraries catalyze community revitalization. Its
influence extends far beyond its physical location. The best libraries anchor communities and instill
confidence in their neighborhoods and catalyze further investment from both the public and private
sectors. The Library and Technology Center will change with the calendar. Programs will evolve
throughout the year and celebrate the cultural and civic life of the community to enhance the desire of
residents to want to continue to reside within the community.
D. Another criterion for evaluating grant applications is the project’s potential to attract new
residents to the community where the project is located. In the shaded box below, or in an
attachment of no more than one page, please discuss the center’s expected new resident
impact.
Providing quality infrastructure, such as the proposed new Library and Technology Center, is the sign of a
quality, progressive community that wants to build positive relationships with residents, local businesses,
and organizations and is critical to our ability to serve new resident families in a successful, fulfilling way.
The proposed Library and Technology Center will provide added value to our community while serving as
a drawing for prospective residents and businesses. Projects such as the proposed Library and
Technology Center are community builders. The new Library will serve as a community center for diverse
populations, a center for the arts, and will be a champion for youth. The Library and Technology Center
will provide important business resources, especially for small local businesses and new business
entrepreneurship, while serving as a magnet for new residents. The new Library and Technology Center
will provide not only the historical programming that is the backbone of all quality libraries, but will
provide a wide variety of technology services, from basic technology classes to expanded computer access
and public Wi-Fi.
E. Another criterion for evaluating grant applications is the project’s potential to enhance or
create an attraction that would increase the potential of visitors to the community where the
project is located from inside and outside the state. In the shaded box below, or in an
attachment of no more than one page, please discuss the center’s expected visitor impact.
The proposed Library and Technology Center will serve as a destination hub in the City of Blair for Blair
citizens as well as county and regional visitors. The new project will be located on a lot that is almost
twelve acres in size and located along Highway 75 in the heart of the City’s growing residential area.
The new facility will be located along the City’s walking and biking trail, connecting it to other areas of the
community and the newly remodeled Depot in the Park, which is located in Lions Park. The Depot in the
Park is an old railroad depot that was saved by the Blair Historic Preservation Alliance and the City of Blair
and renovated to provide an area for small gatherings as well as an area for the Alliance to display historic
community exhibits. The Depot facility is located on Nebraska Street, which was once part of the historic
Lincoln Highway, and serves as the hub of the City’s trails system.
In addition to the Library being convenient to access from other tourist designations, the site will have
space available for a number of other potential attractions in the future that will enhance the Library and
Technology Center’s ability to serve as a community and State-wide tourist attraction. The City plans to
develop a park- type setting around the Library, which could include a “splash pad’ that would not only
serve local needs but be an attraction for travelers.
The City of Blair is in discussions with the Danish Archives, a nonprofit corporation, on the possibility of
co-locating with the Library. The Danish Archives is currently located in the main business district, after
having to move out of the former Dana College when the College closed in June of 2010. The Archives
annually has visitors and researchers from around the United States and several Foreign Countries. They
are in need of additional space for collections, research, and meeting areas for putting on programs. This
grant will increase the financial possibilities for the co-location to occur. The synergies and programming
that could develop between the Danish Archives and the new Library and Technology Center are endless.
The new facility will also provide meeting space that not only will be available for library and Archive
programming but will provide small and large groups with facilities to host local and region meeting and
seminars that we cannot serve today.
In addition to the above possibilities, the new Library and Technology Center will enhance local and region
tourism by having more computers and enhanced Wi-Fi available for the traveling public. The current
library, with limited computers and technology, serves as a location for travelers and contractors to
routinely stop and gain access to the Internet and to stay in touch with family and friends by being able to
check email, social media, and etc. The new facility will enhance these opportunities many times over.
F. A grant may be used for the construction of new centers or the renovation or expansion of
existing centers. It may not be used for programming, marketing, advertising, and related
activities. The grant may be used for site and infrastructure improvements directly related to
the construction, renovation, or expansion of a center. It also may be used for the purchase
and installation of fixed seating, lighting, carpeting, and other fixtures at a center, but not for
temporary and/or portable furniture or equipment. The fund may also be used for preliminary
planning related to the development or rehabilitation of eligible projects.
Grant assistance must be matched at least equally from local sources; and at least fifty
percent of the local match must be in cash. Neither the local match nor the items listed for
grant assistance should include amounts already spent prior to the date of this application for
grant assistance. Following these guidelines, please fill in the table below, or provide a one-
page attachment, showing the estimated line item costs for the project, broken down by the
proposed funding sources (grant and match), plus the total amounts.
Estimated Project Expenditures and Funding Sources
Match (Local Sources)
Line Item Grant Cash In-Kind
Off-Site Improvements (Grading, Utilities,
Parking/Walks, etc.) (See Box Below)
Excavation, Footing/Foundation, Stonework,
Joists and Girders, Framing, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Thermal/Moisture Protection (Roofing,
Insulation, Siding, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Doors/Windows and Finishes (Drywall, Tile,
Carpet, Painting, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Equipment and Furnishings (Bath/Kitchen
Appliances, Cabinets, Fixed Seating, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Mechanical (Heating, Air Conditioning,
Plumbing, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Electrical (Lighting, Security System,
Fire Detection, etc.) _______ _______ _______
Other (Specify:_________________________
__________________________________) _______ _______ _______
TOTAL _______ _______ _______
The City of Blair has been working with the Blair Library Foundation, the Blair Library Board, and others
since 2006 on the need to build a new Library and Technology Center. The City is currently in the
process of selecting a consulting firm to proceed with the design and bidding for construction of the
new facility. In 2006 the City completed a needs (and wants) study for a 20 year growth of the City.
Since that time we have been on hold with the project due to the closing of Dana College and not
knowing what was going to happen to those facilities and whether the City would need to step in and
help revitalize some of the buildings to include putting the Community Library in one of the campus
buildings. Now, with Midland University purchasing the campus to operate a new College, the City
can move forward with plans to build the new Library and Technology Center. The original study
estimate was for a 24,400 sq ft facility at an estimated cost of $6,300,000. Current project and
project budget calls for an estimated $5,420,000 project and a 22,000 sq ft facility, including the land.
Depending on final design and estimates the building size may have to be adjusted to stay within
budget.
Grant Cash In-Kind
Site Improvements* (see next page) -0- $350,000 -0-
New Construction ** $375,000 $3,655,000
Furnishing, Office Equip, phones, etc.) -0- $100,000 -0-
Computers/Technology equip -0- $100,000 -0-
Design, Bidding, Construction Management -0- $420,000 -0-
Land*** -0- -0- $420,000
Total $375,000 $4,625,000(1) $420,000
*Site Improvements – includes grading, utilities, parking/walks, etc
**New Construction – includes excavation, footing/foundation, stonework, joists and girders, framing,
thermal/moisture protection (roofing, insulation, siding), doors/windows, finishes (Drywall, Tile,
Carpet, Painting), mechanical (heating, air conditioning, plumbing), electrical (lighting, security
system, fire detection)
***Land – The City Blair has previously acquired the property from a developer for unpaid taxes and
assessments. The City has title to property.
(1) Discussions continue with the Danish Archives on the possibility of co-locating with the Library and
Technology Center. If it is determined to be in the interests of all parties to co-locate the project cost
will increase approximately $1,000,000 ($920,000 new construction and 80,000 Design) for
approximately 6,000 square feet of space.
G. Another criterion for evaluating grant applications is the municipality’s capacity to finance
its matching share of project costs, implements its plan, and operate the center. Please
provide in the shaded box below, or in an attachment of no more than one page, a schedule
showing when the necessary grant match would be available for financing projects costs,
when phases of construction would be completed using both the match and the requested
grant, if approved, and when the completed project would begin operation. Please identify
matching funds including their origination.
Total Projected Revenue:
City of Blair Cash (loan) $2,125,000 (2)
In-Kind (land) $420,000
Blair Library Foundation $2,500,000 (3)
Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (Grant) $375,000
Total $5,420,000
(2) Cash – The City of Blair will enter into a lease purchase agreement with a non – profit organization
such as the Blair Library Foundation to finance the project. It is anticipated that the Foundation will
enter into a USDA public facilities loan over 40 years and the City’s annual lease payment will be the
source of the Foundations annual lease payment to the USDA. The City of Blair currently levies
34.5965 cents per hundred dollars of valuation for general funding. The maximum levy for the City of
Blair is 45.0000 cents per hundred dollars of valuation. The City’s current valuation is $482,803,674.
Although the City has sufficient room under our levying authority to fund the project we anticipate
the lease purchase payments will be made from sales tax. The City currently collects over $2,000,000
annually from Sales tax and only $1,020,000 is committed to ongoing programs. The remaining
$1,000,000 is available annually for projects such as the Library and Technology Center. With the
Library payment the City would still have approximately $900,000 annually for other projects.
(3) Blair Library Foundation has undertaken a funding effort to raise $3,000,000. $2,500,000 would be to
match City costs and the remaining $500,000 would be for future programming and technology. The
Foundation has formally committed to borrowing the City’s funding and lease purchasing the facility
to the City. To date the foundation has raised a little over $1,900,000 and anticipates reaching their
goal by early fall.
Should the Danish Archives agree to co locate with the new Library and Technology Center, it is
anticipated that the additional funds would come from a combination of donations to the Archives
and additional loan dollars. The City of Blair would guarantee the annual payment to the Blair Library
Foundation and sub lease, lease purchase, the additional costs to the Danish Archives.
Project Schedule: May 27, 2014 selection of Design Consultant complete
January 2, 2015 Completion of Design
February 16, 2015 Accept Bids
February 24, 2015 Award Bids
March 30, 2015 Start Construction
March 31, 2016 Construction Complete
April 1, 2016 Move in
(Grant funds would be drawn down on a one to one match starting with the anticipated first project
construction monthly pay estimate in April of 2015. It is anticipated all grant funds would be drawn down
by October of 2015)
H. Projects with completed technical assistance and feasibility studies shall be preferred to
those with no prior planning. Please provide one copy of any such study or studies with this
application and/or in the shaded box below summarize the planning for the project that has
been done to date.
The City of Blair and Blair Library Foundation completed a Needs and Feasibility Study in 2006. (See
Attached Study marked exhibit A) The study was completed by HGM and Associates and their Library
Planning sub consultant, George Lawson. The current Library was constructed in 1974 and has a total
of 6800 square feet of space. The work areas have been converted to staff office space and the
previous meeting areas have been converted to storage areas. The Library has limited space for
technology and computers and has no available space for programming.
In April of 2010, the City contracted with HGM Associates to look at several alternatives for an expanded
Library. (See attached cost comparison summary marked exhibit B) Based on this study, the Council
authorized a committee to meet and look at possible sites for the new Library at the first Council
meeting in June of 2010. The committee never met due to the closing of Dana College in late June of
2010.
In September of 2014, the City Council adopted a resolution passed Resolution 2013-31, (see attached
exhibit C), pledging their commitment and support for the construction of the new Library and
Technology Center on Lot 1 of Deerfield Subdivision which is currently owned by the City of Blair.
J. Where possible, please provide a map and photos (existing facilities) that demonstrate the
condition of facilities in question.
Attached are several pictures of the existing Library, which show how the community has outgrown the
current facility. The current facility struggles to provide library programming to meet the needs of the
community, tourists, and our construction industries that need to use the facility to stay in touch with
home offices.
Picture #1 - This picture shows the overcrowded condition of the
existing Library Community Room. Overcrowding is a determent
to residents, visitors, and potential new residents from wanting
to use the facility and services offered.
Picture #2 – This picture shows additional overcrowding in the
Community Room. For many years, this room was available for
community organizations. It has been converted to an area for
programming. The two adults in the front-left part of the picture
are accessing genealogy information, which is also housed in this
room.
Picture # 3 – This picture shows the children’s area of the library.
The area is small and discourages people from utilizing the
Library and makes it difficult to hold children’s program. Over the
last several summers the Library summer reading programs have
drawn over 200 children and many activities have to be moved
off site.
Picture #4 – This picture shows the Library collection area. The
collection has grown to meet the needs of the community and
the patrons, but has outgrown the available space. Today, the
area is uninviting and marginal from meeting ADA standards for
accessibility.
Picture #5 – This picture shows the Library “technology
area”. It consists of five stations and routinely has
people waiting for extended periods to gain access. This
lack of availability makes it difficult for contractors and
travelers to be able to stay in touch with family, friends,
and businesses. The new facility will increase the
number of stations and separate computer use by
children and youth, from that of the general adult
population.
Picture #6 – This picture shows the overcrowding of a
former storage area that has been converted to staff
work area.
Picture #7 – This picture shows the mechanical room
which now contains some storage area due to
overcrowding of the facility.
I. The chief elected official of the municipality (mayor, chairperson, etc.) applying for a grant
from the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund must check (mark with X or √ in shaded
boxes) each of the following conditions, thereby assuring understanding and approval, and
sign and date this application form in the spaces provided below the listed conditions.
A project for which a grant is sought must be located in the municipality that
_X_
applies for the grant.
The municipality must own the center for which grant assistance is sought.
_X_
The municipality must operate directly or by contract the center for which grant
_X_
assistance is sought.
The municipality must not have received funding assistance from the Sports Arena
_X_
Facility Financing Assistance Act for the project in question.
Any municipality receiving a grant will not be awarded more than one grant in any
_X_
five-year period.
Signature of Chief Elected Officer: ____________________________________________
Typed or Printed Name and Title: _____________________________________________
______________________________________________
Date Signed: ___________________________
J. Person Preparing Final Grant Application:
Name: Phil Green
th
Address: 218 S 16 Street
Blair, NE 68008
Telephone Number: 402-426-4191
E-Mail Address (If Any): pcgreen@ci.blair.ne.us
Return Completed Final Application Form and Attachments, If Any, by April 11, 2014 to:
Kevin Andersen
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
P.O. Box 94666
Lincoln, NE 68509-4666
(402) 471-3775
kevin.s.andersen@nebraska.gov