Potential Federal Funding?

On January 15th, we heard from Governor Doyle that he expects Wisconsin will be granted some federal money in the form of a Stimulus Package. We also understand that Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has included the Downtown Public Library on the list of stimulus projects to be considered for the City of Madison.

The Downtown Public Library may well be positioned perfectly for President Obama's Stimulus Package. Here is why, based on four key measurements for Stimulus funding as described by the Governor:

1. Get people back to work quickly. Our proposal for the Library is "shovel ready" and more. The foundations are already in place. We can start work on the new Library within 60 days. Selective demolition could occur as we initiate steel detailing and fabrication. A local workforce of architects, engineers, sub-contractors, fabricators and trades workers could be working promptly, and steel could begin placement within just a few months.

2. Affect many areas of the State. The public library system has a significant and broad economic impact in our region. A new central library not only will strengthen this system, but increased visitor activity at the new facility will stimulate economic activity at surrounding businesses. The second phase also adds value and uses that will compliment existing businesses around the Capitol, on State Street and Mifflin Street, providing better adjacent uses to Overture Center with a hotel complex, and sidewalk shops and restaurants for the Bassett neighborhood.

3. Include small businesses and contractors. This project will be designed and built locally with small to medium sized businesses. The economic impact will hit the street immediately.

4. Long-term value. The value of a new downtown library, relocated to a major Capitol axis street and vacating a site that allows even more private investment in a key downtown location will bring phenomenal long-term value to current and future generations. By any measure, the Fiore-Irgens proposal, designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects and built by J.H. Findorff & Son, will exceed any other alternative that leaves the Library on its present site.

This project should be placed very high on any list prioritizing where best to invest federal, state or local dollars with the purpose of achieving prompt, measureable and long-term value to a community.

Steve Holzhauer