Foundation offers $50,000 matching grant for Bigfork library

The Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork will match up to $50,000 in donations to the campaign for a new Bigfork library between July 1 and Sept. 30.

The foundation is encouraging local residents, businesses and nonprofits to donate to the library effort during that period and will match those gifts dollar-for-dollar. Jim Nelson and Nancy Ballsrud previously offered to match up to $50,000 during a donation window that ended last week.

"We support the new library as a critical element of CFBB's core efforts to improve our town's infrastructure and cultural amenities," Paul Mutascio, the foundation's president, said in a statement. "It will be a state-of-the-art facility that will serve all of our citizens for decades to come."

The campaign seejs to raise $1.6 million for the acquisition, renovation, furnishings and collection expansion of the new library. Once the $1.1 million mark is met, finalization of the architectural plans and renovation work can begin.

So far, just under $695,000 has been raised, according to the foundation's website. The campaign aims to have the facility ready for ImagineIF Bigfork to occupy by late 2022.

Contributions can be made by mail, online or over the phone. More information, including a virtual walkthrough of the proposed library produced by architecture firm Cushing Terrell, can be found at imagineiflibraryfoundation.org/anewbigforklibrary.