MELLEN, Wis. -- A $200,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Commerce has been awarded to the City of Mellen to fund a senior center and library project.
"A year and a half ago Mayor (Joe) Barabe informed me of the community's desire to build a new library and community center and inquired as to the availability of any funds. I immediately put him in touch with the Department of Commerce and encouraged the staff to work with him and community officials regarding an application for funding," said State Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Poplar.
The grant consists of $200,000 from the CDBG's Public Facilities program. The funding will allow the city to build a 3,300-square-foot senior center and library.
The total cost of the project is $400,000.
The remaining funding for the project will include a $100,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program in Spooner and $94,000 in state computer account money owed to the City of Mellen.
The new library will be larger than the current facility and it will provide more community computer access, Jauch said.
