Independence library wins $4.12 million state grant for new building, aims for solar power

The Independence Public Library has been awarded a $4,121,000 state grant to build a combined library and community center, a representative told the Trempealeau County Board on May 19.

The building will sit adjacent to Four Seasons Park and include daily food pantry services, three classroom spaces for an after‑school youth center and a library as the focal point, Kayla Mattson, a representative of the Independence Public Library, told the board. “Our library was the recipient of a $4,121,000 grant from the state of Wisconsin that, it's out for bids right now. So it should cover the cost of construction for this new building,” Mattson said.

Why it matters: the project uses a state flexible facilities program that directs COVID‑relief funding to rural and underserved communities and aims to combine library services with social supports such as food access and youth programs. The project is expected to reduce pressure on several smaller, part‑time food pantries by uniting them into a year‑round pantry offering fresh and frozen foods.

Key details in the board presentation: the library has completed design work and put the project out for construction bids; Mattson said the team anticipates “just over a year of construction” with a move‑in toward the start of the 2026 school year. The building site borders Four Seasons Park, a roughly 40‑acre park with a campground and kayak landing. Mattson described design choices intended to blend the building into the park, including wood siding and metal that “will reflect the leaves and the greenery in the park.”

On operations and fundraising, Mattson said the library set an overall fundraising goal of $500,000. She told the board shelving and furniture are the largest capital items, with shelving alone estimated at approximately $250,000 to $300,000. On ongoing operating costs, she said the library projected only a $3,000 increase in annual operating costs for 2027 compared with 2025 levels, and that grant funding and other supports will be used to cover increased needs.

Board members and library staff also discussed plans for on‑site solar power. Mattson said the project plans to “completely solar fire our building,” noting a regional partnership among libraries to pursue full solarization where possible and citing the Whitehall Library’s recent full solar installation as an example.

The library invited the board and the public to a site dedication on June 7 during the Independence Days Festival. No formal county action on the project was taken at the May 19 meeting; the presentation was made as an appearance on the agenda.