Grant sought for Southwick’s old library
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Staff writer
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Cultural Council is hoping to remake the old library into a travel and tourism stop.
Patricia McMahon of the Cultural Council discussed possibilities with the Southwick Select Board this week and said the group hopes to raise funds to renovate the historic building.
“My original intent was to qualify for a cultural facilities grant,” said McMahon. “However, that requires the building be over 50-percent dedicated to cultural activities and be 50,000 square-feet. We met one criteria, but not the other.”
The building is not large enough for the group to qualify for the grant. McMahon indicated, however, that she was told if the Cultural Council teamed up with a non-municipal non-profit organization it could qualify for other grants that would help their efforts.
McMahon said the Council is loosely using a 2006 study of the building, which includes a priority list of renovations.
“The Cultural Council is planning on moving forward to prepare a Community Preservation Committee application,” said McMahon. “And John Westcott is hoping to get some estimates and see where we go from there.”
Westcott is the town maintenance director.
McMahon said the building has a lot of “potential” and the Select Board members agreed.
“We would love to have that building saved,” said Chairman Fred Arnold.
Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at [email protected]
