Drawing on federal funds channeled through Florida–and on the strength of a grant application by Holly Albanese, the county’s library director and chief of special projects–Flagler County today was awarded a $4 million grant for its planned $16 million south-branch library in Bunnell, known as the “Nexus Center.” It is a major win for the county, all but securing the necessary funding for the library, which has been a dream of the library Board of Trustees for a decade.
The county this year budgeted $9.6 million for the project. The library had set aside $1 million for it in revenue generated from its passport program. It had also secured a $500,000 state grant last year, bringing the total amount secured for the new library to just over $15 million. The county is still waiting to hear about a hazard mitigation grant, applied for on the basis of the new library eventually serving as a shelter during emergencies. It is possible that the project could start construction this summer, Albanese said this afternoon.
Albanese has been working on developing a South Branch library since 2014. So her reaction was not a surprise when she got an email from County Administrator Heidi Petito, letting her know about the grant early this afternoon. “I gotta tell you, it was very emotional for me. I was literally literally crying. It’s very emotional” she said. She was just as quick to inform her Board of Trustees. “Hard work truly pays off. I can’t even begin to express how happy I am,” she wrote.
Albanese had learned about the grant opportunity last June rom the state librarian, who’d emailed all county libraries with the information. She was immediately confident that this would serve Flagler County’s needs, and fit the grant’s requirements. “Nobody knows except for me really how hard I worked on researching and writing this particular grant,” Albanese said in an interview. “If anybody saw the requirements of this grant, it was what I would say a beast of a grant. I’ve never written one as complex and convoluted as this one was, and the requirements and the statistics and the information that had to be gathered, and the letters of support. There was just so much detail that was needed in this grant.” Albanese wasn’t sure that the project could go forward without that $4 million. So when she learned of it, there were some tears, and there was the near-certainty that the project would, in fact, be a go.
One of the trustees responded to the announcement with a string of headlines that reflect the respect and affection Albanese has earned from the board over the years: “Congratulations, Superstar Holly!” “Library Director worth her weight in gold.” “She’s bringing home the bacon, our Amazing Holly.” “Holly tells the Office of Broadband ‘show me the money,’ and they did.” It is that much more remarkable that, unlike every other government in Flagler County, Albanese secured two major grants plus passport revenue through her own devices, rather than by relying on that other bringer of bacon in the last two years–Paul Renner, the Palm Coast Republican and current Speaker of the house, who’s leveraged his position to Flagler County’s benefit almost as lucratively as the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd used to for West Virginia. So it was an understatement when the trustee concluded the string of imagined headlines with these words: “Thanks so much for all you do for our library system, Holly.”
Though Gov. Ron DeSantis sought inaccurately to take credit for it (“Governor Ron DeSantis Delivers $223 Million to Expand Rural Broadband Access,” went his office’s headline on a release) the $4 million grant is part of the federally funded Multipurpose Community Facilities Program, itself part of the $223 million broadband initiative, also entirely federally funded under a Biden administration program. DeSantis in his release explicitly criticized the program for its strictures on diversity even as he claimed credit for the money.
Of the $223 million, $86 million was earmarked for community facilities, with awards limited to a maximum of $4 million. Key in Flagler County’s application was a letter of support from Bunnell government, pressing for the south branch library and its impact on local users. In 2014, when the library Board of Trustees first advocated for the branch, it told the County Commission at the time that it would serve up to 20,000 users.
The original design was for a 32,000 square-foot joint use facility that would go up on Commerce Parkway, opposite the relatively new Sheriff’s Operations Center. It was to be a joint facility with the county’s human and health services division, and include a conference center. It still will have all those elements, but the project has been scaled down to about 22,000 square feet.
Commerce Parkway is about to be dug through from State Road 100 to U.S. 1, a two-lane road looping around the city and opening that side of Bunnell to commercial and residential development. The library will be positioned to capture that new activity. (See: “20 Years Later, 1.7-Mile, $14.5 Million Commerce Parkway from SR100 Is a Go. Just Don’t Call It a ‘Bypass’ Anymore.”) Bunnell City Hall will also be going up almost at the same time as the library, a short walk away, at the north end of Commerce Parkway. (See: “Bunnell Lands a Nearly-All Flagler Team to Build Its City Hall and Police Station.”)
The county has been trying to sell some of the acreage next to the main branch library on Palm Coast Parkway. But that land has a reverter clause–reverting back to ITT, which, however, no longer exists. It is still complicating selling the land, which in turn would have to still be used for a public purpose. That’s no longer a deciding factor in the south branch library’s fate, which turns to more technical steps as it moves toward a construction date.
“We are in good shape,” Albanese said.
Edith Campins says
Wonderful! Go Holly!
Ray W. says
While unrelated to this very good news for Flagler County residents, FEMA rules were recently changed to permit a more energy efficient rebuilding of hospitals, schools, and other governments structures after damages arising from storms or other natural disasters.
FEMA has rebuilt some 105,000 such structures in the past decade.
Now, FEMA will reimburse the costs of the rebuild up to 75%, AND, substantially fund the changeover to heat pumps, solar power, battery storage, etc., all at the 75% reimbursement rate. Should Flagler County buildings be damaged in some future storm-related event, they can be converted to a greater level of energy efficiency during the rebuild process at a lesser cost to local taxpayers.
ROGER C. says
Congratulations to Holly Albanese, and to the County for having such a talented person to head up our Flagler County Library. She initiated the passport program a number of years ago and has brought in millions of dollars from it, for the benefit of the Library, and the County. Now she has almost single handily brought in $4,000,000 more. We are so lucky to have her working for the County and the residents of Flagler County.
Tobias says
Finally, I miss the old library in Bunnell. The new one doesn’t have space for me to Wifi for research so I have to travel the Palm Coast Library. This new one with the awesome John and Christina too.
Jan says
Holly is a gem. Proud to be a member of the Library Board of Trustees. Holly is a true professional, and always has the best interests of the patrons at heart. She is innovative, smart, a hard worker, and has made our library a model for all libraries.
We are fortunate to have her at the helm. Kudos, Holly! She is outstanding, as is her staff.
JimboXYZ says
A $ 16M library in Bunnell, FL ? Maybe the kids will learn how to read there, even though Bunnell Elementary kids can’t read at their grade level.
Shark says
And by the time they get enough money to build it the price will double !!!
Atwp says
Is this good news? With all the books being banned, will there be any books for the library? Will any African American authored books be allowed in the library, or any other author of color? Just asking.
JW says
Good news but………….
Fewer and fewer people are reading (books and newspapers) these days
We continue the book “burning” in school libraries, so kids don’t even learn any more to read books.
Our “feel good society” prefers entertainment (sports in school, lot’s of time with your smart phone and chat with your “friends” etc.)
Remember, politicians (Trump included) prefer less educated/informed people. Why? They are easier to “manage”
Celia Pugliese says
All these millions for a library in a county of only barely 104,500 population were 102,000 plus of those are Palmcoasters (city of Palm Coast) which leaves the county actually with only 2,500 residents. Meaning that every Palm Coaster will be forced to contribute almost $2,000 to that ; library so Ms. Albanese has a pride pin in her resume. Why do I say this because just our yearly ad valorem taxes splits 24% city 44% county. Meanwhile the city of Palm Coast does not have enough funds to resurface its streets but $2000 of our pockets will go for this library, Meanwhile Palmcoasters 24% contribution, does not leave us enough to resurface our streets.
What about spending some of our hard earned taxes in needed items like a piece of public land that we already own, city or county, and build a simple campground for the homeless so they have a safe place for tents, living cars parked, bathrooms and showers with a main structure under roof to receive rehab, counseling, health treatment and cold weather shelter along needed jobs training. The Sheltering Tree directed by Mr.. Martin Collins will have a location for their over 100 volunteers and also Ms. Denise Calderwood our neighbor local homeless advocate, to work with those American neighbors in distress that we see all around us. No one is exempted to become homeless in our country with the crazy turns of Wall Street. I know many will bring the same justification as addiction, being lazy, not wanting to work etc. But refuse to accept the sad realities of many of them, specially our Veterans with PTSD after fighting for our freedom, among them. Anyone is exposed to loose one’s job and the house over not being able to pay the mortgage or rent. Now Tallahassee is working on legislation to prevent homeless the use any public locations for dwelling then what are they going to do if passes, evict them into the ocean.? More than ever before a campground at least or a facility will be needed. Our law enforcement will have a place were to direct anyone affected by homelessness, for safety and help. Without it were is our sheriff to send or transport them while enforcing the current and incoming laws? 2024 Session: Bill would bar homeless from certain public spaces in Florida
2024 Session: Bill would bar homeless from certain public spaces in Florida
A bill targeting municipalities that allow the homeless to camp on public property will be discussed Thursday.
The day our taxes will address these issues first, then I will congratulate all, not now!
Now you can kill the messenger that does not hide her identity.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/25/florida-bill-would-prohibit-homeless-from-public-spaces-override-home-rule/72341254007/
FlaglerLive says
The commenter’s math and geography are a bit off. There are some 125,000 county residents, none of whom look at their address when looking for the proximity of a library. The south branch would address the needs of a very large segment of the population, including a large underserved segment.
Celia Pugliese says
Thank you for the correction Pierre. My census figures were off as well as my hat to you for your clarification after which I found out that for 2023, this county has over 132,500 population. I guess we are growing so fast that my aging memory can’t catch up. Also I still believe that 16 millions for a library is too much to fund in this counties population, 35th in FL and based in the county per capita income in 2022 of $40,463 and a poverty rate of 10.3 %. As far as I know Flagler County has 3 libraries, two in the south side; Bunnell Library and the Flagler Beach Betty Seflick Park Library. is not we lack them in the south side. I still believe we have more urgent priorities pressing the residents and I know also the avid reader you are, so we can agree to disagree…hopefully.
Jackie says
You are certainly not up to speed on the new library in Bunnell. The $16,000,000 you speak of is not only for the library. Approximately only another $3,000,000 will be needed for the library. The remaining $8,000,000 will be for Health and Human services. This county needs another library for the southern part of the county!
Hats off to Holly Albanese for her perseverance and her insight for obtaining grant $$ and adding in Passport revenue!
JW says
The title of this opinion is typical for the AMERICAN FEEL GOOD factor, while putting China in a negative perspective (in many NYT articles). America is the Military/Industrial complex obsessed with threatening the world that it will be the Hegemon forever. We love to fight and only talk about peace. Most recently in the Ukraine and Israel. We need a lot more INTROSPECTION. I recommend again Ray Dalio’s The Changing World Order and John Owen’s The Ecology of Nations. Both are food for THOUGHT.
Jim says
Please, get a life! It’s an article about building a library.
Erod says
Maybe the commission should look to Holly Albenease taking over the county leadership. From what I read in past Flaglerlive articles she is a capable manager with the know how to get things done, the FIRST TIME. Not like our current leadership that feels Flagler County is one big moneybag to cover one blunder after another.
Nicole says
We need AFFORDABLE HOUSING/AFFORDABLE RENT NOT AN OVERLY EXPENSIVE LIBRARY!!!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Congratulations Holly and Thank You President Biden and his Administration for providing this grant. Along with all the Legislators who DID VOTE for this grant to make it’s way to Flagler County.
Celia Pugliese says
You got that right Nephew of Uncle Sam! Thank you to President Biden for providing the Federal Funds, our taxes nevertheless/
Flapharmtech says
Much needed great news for Flagler county!!
Celia Pugliese says
Maybe we are to learn a much realistically positive way for our community generating much needed local jobs to be created for such large of our tax funds investments. Maybe a good example in 2007 by King Charles of England with his 20 million pounds loan that helped to revitalize the underprivileged surrounding community and jibs creations in Scotland as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMSN37hMnhQ