Introduction
Act 50 of 1993 established the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL), administers the public library portion of this program through a competitive grant process. The competitive grant is used to award matching planning, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation grants to municipalities that sponsor state-aided public libraries.
Grants are awarded to municipalities for up to 50 percent of their eligible costs for public libraries' facilities projects. A dollar-for-dollar match is required for each project awarded grant funds. By providing funds to public libraries to make critical repairs, renovate existing space, or to build new public library buildings, the General Assembly has ensured better facilities to provide vital library services to people across Pennsylvania.
Act 61 of 2011 requires PDE to submit to the Governor's Office and the General Assembly an annual report of the projects and services provided by the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund. This report, which pertains to the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, meets that mandate.
When last year's legislative report was submitted, seven projects from the 2018 Keystone grant round were on extensions varying between three months and one year. The last of these extensions concluded on March 31, 2021. All 27 projects from the 2018 grant round are now complete.
The 2019 Keystone grant contracts concluded on March 31, 2021. Of the 19 projects awarded in that round, 14 are complete. Five projects were granted extensions varying between three months and one year due to unforeseen circumstances that delayed the progress of their work. These projects are located in the City of Aliquippa, Morrisville Borough, City of Pittsburgh, City of Shamokin, and Union County.
In the 2020 Keystone grant round, OCL received 36 applications from municipalities on behalf of their public libraries. Eighteen projects were approved for funding, with funds committed totaling $5,189,530. A summary of these projects is included in this report.
A new Keystone Grant cycle is expected to open on June 28, 2021. The deadline for application submissions will be October 1, 2021. The Keystone application process has transitioned from paper to electronic submission using the eGrants platform. It is expected that the next awards will be announced in early spring 2022, with contracts beginning on March 1, 2022.
Summary of 2020 Grant Cycle Projects
Grant Recipient: Braddock Borough (Allegheny County)
Project: Braddock Carnegie Library Association
Granted $750,000 to upgrade HVAC system, rehab windows, doors, stairs, shafts.
Total project cost: $2,285,860
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,535,860
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Burrell Township (Indiana County)
Project: Burrell Township Library
Granted $229,000 to construct a new library facility.
Total project cost: $458,000
Amount requested: $229,000
Matching funds: $229,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: County of Chester
Project: Chester County Library & District Center
Granted $387,500 to renovate for accessibility and add public workspaces.
Total project cost: $775,000
Amount requested: $387,500
Matching funds: $387,500
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Clarion Borough (Clarion County)
Project: Clarion Free Library
Granted $105,385 to replace boiler and make accessibility upgrades to restrooms and entry.
Total project cost: $210,770
Amount requested: $105,385
Matching funds: $105,385
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority
Project: Dauphin County Library System: McCormick Riverfront Library
Granted $750,000 to renovate newly acquired building adjacent to library.
Total project cost: $3,433,736
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching fund: $2,683,736
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Erie County
Project: Erie County Public Library: Millcreek Branch
Granted $25,000 to conduct needs assessment/feasibility study for relocating library.
Total project cost: $50,000
Amount requested: $25,000
Matching fund: $25,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: City of Greensburg (Westmoreland County)
Project: Greensburg Hempfield Area Library
Granted $748,145 to renovate restrooms, upgrade mechanical and life safety systems.
Total project cost: $1,496,290
Amount requested: $748,145
Matching funds: $748,145
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Borough of Greenville (Mercer County)
Project: Greenville Area Public Library
Granted $75,000 to replace boiler, replace roof, and upgrade lighting.
Total project cost: $152,030
Amount requested: $75,000
Matching funds: $77,030
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Huntingdon County
Project: Huntingdon County Library
Granted $48,650 to replace elevator.
Total project cost: $97,300
Amount requested: $48,650
Matching funds: $48,650
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Kittanning Borough (Armstrong)
Project: Kittanning Free Library
Granted $28,976 to upgrade lighting, flooring, and security system.
Total project cost: $57,952
Amount requested: $28,976
Matching funds: $28,976
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Lackawanna County
Project: Lackawanna County Library System: Abington Community Library
Granted $49,150 to renovate and expand community room facilities.
Total project cost: $98,300
Amount requested: $49,150
Matching funds: $49,150
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Borough of Leesport (Berks County)
Project: Schuylkill Valley Community Library
Granted $134,712 to construct addition, add restrooms, replace roof, and upgrade entrance.
Total project cost: $289,224
Amount requested: $134,712
Matching funds: $154,512
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Richland Township (Allegheny County)
Project: Northern Tier Regional Library Association
Granted $38,579.50 to install automatic entrance doors, efficient lighting, and new flooring.
Total project cost: $79,675.65
Amount requested: $38,579.50
Matching funds: $41,096.15
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Borough of Somerset (Somerset County)
Project: Mary S. Biesecker Public Library
Granted $241,798.53 to improve accessibility of entrance, install solar canopy, upgrade interior plaster and flooring.
Total project cost: $483,597.06
Amount requested: $241,798.53
Matching funds: $241,798.53
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Souderton Borough (Montgomery County)
Project: Indian Valley Public Library
Granted $97,480 to replace roof.
Total project cost: $194,960
Amount requested: $97,480
Matching funds: $97,480
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Upper Moreland Township (Montgomery County)
Project: Upper Moreland Free Public Library
Granted $70,457 to make two exits ADA compliant.
Total project cost: $140,914
Amount requested: $70,457
Matching funds: $70,457
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Township of Upper St. Clair (Allegheny County)
Project: Upper St. Clair Township Library
Granted $750,000 to reconfigure and increase library space.
Total project cost: $2,700,000
Amount requested: $750,000
Matching funds: $1,950,000
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Grant Recipient: Warren County
Project: Warren Public Library, aka Warren Library Association
Granted $659,697 to add ADA entrance doors, renovate restrooms, update elevator; upgrade HVAC, lighting and security; create teen and maker spaces.
Total project cost: $1,319,394
Amount requested: $659,697
Matching funds: $659,697
Contract expiration date: 3/31/2022
Summary of Reported Totals
The following is a summary of the cumulative totals for the 2020 Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund grant awards, initiated in 2020 and contained within this report:
Total Project Costs: $14,323,002.71
Total Grant Amounts Requested by 2020 Awardees: $5,189,530.03
Total Grant Funds Committed to 2020 Awardees: $5,189,530.03