Malden Library Awarded $80K Grant For Renovations

MALDEN, MA – The MassDevelopment Board of Directors has approved an $80,000 grant for the Malden Public Library, which will support the renovation of the historic 1885 Converse Memorial Building. Updates will include a new energy efficient computerized HVAC control system to improve indoor environmental conditions and preserve the art collection.

The grant is drawn from the Cultural Facilities Fund, a state program that provides capital and planning grants to nonprofits, colleges, and communities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities and sciences. CFF awards invest in the acquisition, design, repair, renovation, expansion and construction of nonprofit and municipal cultural facilities.

"The Converse Memorial Building is one of Malden's greatest historical and cultural treasures, and its continued preservation and improvement will ensure that it is accessible to many future generations of Maldonians," Sen. Jason Lewis said in a statement. "At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is putting significant pressure on local budgets, this grant represents welcome assistance from state-level cultural partners."

The Cultural Facilities Fund was created by an act of the Legislature in 2006 to achieve the following goals:

• Enhance Massachusetts’ creative economy through financing for acquisition, construction, expansion, renovation, and repair of cultural facilities.
• Increase employment, entrepreneurialism, and tourism in the regions where these facilities are located, especially drawing new visitors from outside the Commonwealth.
• Stimulate further investment in the arts, heritage, and sciences by preserving cultural resources.

Organizations awarded CFF grants generate millions in annual economic activity through direct spending on everything from supplies to energy and advertising. More than six million people visited these sites in the past year, one-third from out of state.

The CFF has also spurred private investment, leveraging about $2.8 billion in spending on their building projects. Grants also contribute to cultural preservation by helping to restore and expand many of our nation’s most treasured historical landmarks.