In November, the Evans Public Library District of Vandalia announced that it was eligible to obtain a $3.4 million matching grant through the Illinois Public Library Construction Act Program. The grant represents roughly 70% of the cost of building a new 15,752-square-foot library on Randolph Street, south of Jefferson Street. To secure the full funding, the library is responsible for raising around $1.38 million prior to a June 2021 deadline.
First Vandalia Corp., parent company of The FNB Community Bank, headquartered in Vandalia, is committing $100,000 to the project. With the donation comes naming rights for the community room planned for the new library.
Todd Shulman, chairman of the First Vandalia Corp. board of directors, said he was “extremely pleased” to make the donation. Shulman added, “Giving back to the communities we serve is the core mission for all of us at The FNB Community Bank. Evans Public Library has been an important resource to our community for years. The new library will have a significant impact on Vandalia’s future.”
Reflecting on the library’s future move, FNB President Mike Radliff said, “Although we’ll miss being neighbors with the Evans Public Library, we understand the opportunity to have a new building designed for their future needs. We also are excited that the new library will be located on ground the Evans family donated for what many remember as the Scout house.”
Jessica Blain, library director, said, “We appreciate the support of First Vandalia Corp. and our other community partners, and look forward to working together to grow for the future. I am excited to see that all of the hard work the board has put into developing plans for a new library for the last 10 years come to fruition. The new building will be an asset for our community.”
The Evans Public Library District has earmarked $600,000 towards the required match, while the Old Capitol Foundation previously announced a $500,000 commitment. With First Vandalia Corp.’s $100,000 donation, Blain says that leaves approximately $170,000 to raise before summer.
The library has launched two other fundraisers, an on-line GoFundMe and brick paver campaign, which provide the public opportunities to support the construction project. There are two sizes of personally inscribed bricks available, 4 x 8 for $100 and 8 x 8 for $175. For more information on these fundraisers, you may visit the library’s website at www.evanspubliclibrary.org.
Photo ident:
(L to R) Grant Wells, FNB Financial Center assistant; Sally Emerick, FNB Assistant Trust Officer; Randy Edwards, First Vandalia Corp. board member and library trustee; Jessica Blain, library director; Todd Shulman, First Vandalia Corp. board chairman; Mike Radliff, FNB Community Bank president; Ty McNary, FNB vice president/loan officer; Aubrea DeCloedt, FNB branch manager; Steve Ainscough, FNB senior vice president/chief financial officer.
Comments