Malden Public Library receives grant
May 26, 2020 : Wicked Local Malden
The Malden Public Library recently received an $80,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund.
Reps. Paul Donato, Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Steven Ultrino and Sen. Jason Lewis, Malden’s representatives in the state legislature, announced that the MassDevelopment Board of Directors approved the grant which will support the renovation of the historic 1885 Converse Memorial Building, including a new energy efficient computerized HVAC control system in order to improve indoor environmental conditions and preserve the art collection.
The grant is drawn from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a state program that provides capital and planning grants to nonprofits, colleges and municipalities 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.
“Once again, I am pleased to announce that the city of Malden has received a grant from a state funded program,” said Donato. “The improvements to this historical site will remain a treasure to Malden residents for future generations.”
“Libraries serve a critical role in our daily life, offering resources that engage and enhance the citizenry of our communities,” said Lipper-Garabedian. “This grant award is deserved recognition of the value of the Malden Public Library and the importance of its preservation.”
“I am excited that Malden Public Library was able to secure funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund for renovations to the Converse Memorial Building,” said Ultrino, “This award will ensure that the historic art collection at the Converse Memorial Building will be preserved for future generations.”
“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,” said Lewis. “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.
The CFF’s impact extends beyond the nonprofit cultural sector in ways that benefit Massachusetts’ broader economy. The organizations awarded grants generate millions in annual economic activity through direct spending on everything from supplies to energy and advertising. They are popular tourist destinations: 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. Finally, CFF grants contribute to cultural preservation by helping to restore and expand many of the nation’s historical landmarks.
