Placer Supervisors approve library infrastructure grant applications

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved applications to be submitted to the California State Library Building Forward: Library Infrastructure Grant Program during its consent agenda Tuesday. The grant program prioritizes funding for public libraries in high-poverty areas and is funded through the Budget Act of 2021 (SB 129), which allocated $439 million in one-time funds to the California State Library. The grant prioritizes addressing critical maintenance and life-safety needs of library facilities throughout the state, according to the staff report. The grant website notes critical maintenance projects as keeping existing facilities, structural elements and building systems suitable for public use and compliant with regulations. Life safety projects address health and safety risks to include the physical aspect of the facility, building systems or equipment essential to emergency response. According to the California Poverty Measure Data for Libraries, the Placer County libraries with the highest percentage of population in poverty are the Auburn Library at 19.87 percent and the Kings Beach Library at 18.551 percent. The staff report notes an application will be submitted for infrastructure upgrades at the Auburn Library, and one will be submitted for planning and acquisition, construction or tenant upgrades for a Kings Beach Library location. The grant program provides a maximum award amount of $10 million per facility and requires matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis. According to the website, the award announcement is anticipated in the spring and grant funds must be utilized by March 31, 2026. Due to the required funding match, the staff report notes proposed projects and funding sources will be presented to the board upon funds from this grant being awarded to Placer.