North Perth is putting together an application for a major grant under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
It would be used to help design and build the North Perth Library and Community Hub in the downtown Listowel branch.
The hub would be two floors, and preliminary floor plans have been completed. Twelve organizations have already signed a letter of intent to be involved in the project, including the existing library facility, the local Salvation Army, and mental health services.
Library CEO Rebecca Dechert Sage says the project would receive almost 75 per cent of the funding from the provincial and federal governments if the application is successful, with North Perth and United Way Perth-Huron responsible for 26.6 per cent.
"At this point, we’re still working on the final numbers for the project prior to the grant application, but the numbers we have at this point are 9.1 million for the total project, which leaves roughly 2.4 million left as something that would be fundraised jointly with United Way Perth-Huron and covered by library reserves," she said.
Dechert Sage said she hopes to hear back from the government in the early part of 2020 on the grant status.
"We would immediately jump into the design development phase, construction, drawings," she said. "So it will go forward based on local fundraising and the capacity of the municipality to complete this project, as well."
