Consultant finds raising funds needed for new Ada library is feasible

By Madison Bennett | MLive

Ada Township residents are one step closer to getting the library they've been asking for.

The Township Board and Downtown Development Authority met in a joint work session on Monday, May 22, to discuss a feasibility study recently conducted by Hopkins Fundraising Consulting.

The proposed library is part of a project to renovate two green spaces in the area. One will be converted into a riverfront park and the other would be the site of a proposed library/community center.

Bob Kullgren, DDA chairperson, said the cost of development for both spaces would be about $8 million, but an initial target goal of $4.3 million has been identified.

The feasibility study evaluated whether or not raising those funds would be possible.

"I'm happy to report in this case, there's a very clear green light that you can raise money for this project," Keith Hopkins, of Hopkins Fundraising Consulting, told Township Board and DDA members Monday evening.

Hopkins came to the work session to speak about the findings, answer questions and listen to further comments and concerns.

"There certainly is fundraising capacity out there and with a lot of hard work and a well thought-through plan, it certainly is possible, if not probable," Kullgren said after the meeting.

The township, working with Hopkins, created a case study, which was then mailed out to people or organizations they had identified as those they wanted feedback from, according to Kullgren. 

Following the case study, Keith Hopkins then went on to interview some of those persons and organizations that participated.

"In the spring (of 2016), there were folks that began to approach the Township Board talking about (a) library," Kullgren told those in attendance.

Community members have been making a push for a library in Ada for over a year now. Penni Zurgable, KDL employee, launched the Facebook page, A Library for the New Village of Ada, which has gained more than 500 likes, and a webpage www.libraryforada.com.

"A library would be a hub for our village, a year-round destination that would benefit our whole community, even those who choose never to enter it," Zurgable said in a post on the website.

Kullgren said there are currently no further plans, but said he is certain that it will be on a meeting agenda fairly soon.

"No decision has been made, only the feasibility study has been completed and now consideration of what would need to be done will be undertaken," he said.

This post originally appeared May 25, 2017 on MLive.com.