Federal Grant to Help Fund SBPL Expansion

MONMOUTH JCT, NJ - On March 15, President Biden signed the 2022 federal spending bill and because of the efforts of Mayor Charlie Carley and Council, township administrators and Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), $405,000 is coming to the South Brunswick Township for the expansion of the South Brunswick Public Library.

The federal funds come from a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development through their Economic Development Initiatives account.

This is welcome news for South Brunswick Public Library as the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Library’s original $7.2 million expansion of The Christopher J. Killmurray Building and the grant should help offset increased costs.

The funding was a result of foresight and cooperative efforts between Representative Watson Coleman, and South Brunswick Mayor Charlie Carley and Council.

“The provided funding will help create an inspiring space where all members of the community can convene and increased capacity to host training workshops and civic services open to the community. It will provide additional necessary services to the community to assist with the increasing population,” said Rep. Watson Coleman.

Along with the recent federal grant of $405,000, the Library was awarded a NJ Library Construction Bond grant in 2021 for $3,586,852. South Brunswick Township has bonded $3 million and the Library Board of Trustees will provide $250,000 towards the project. The South Brunswick Public Library Foundation has committed to raise at least $500,000 towards the project from public donations.