Project Timeline

  • Early 2016 - The Building Committee gathers for their initial meeting. Tappe Architects is named architect. Colliers Project Leaders is named owner’s project manager. The grant application is drafted.
  • January 2017 - The grant application is submitted for the 2017 Construction Grant.
  • July 2017 - The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners announces Fitchburg on the waitlist with an award of $12,449,949.
  • Spring 2022 - American Rescue Plan Act City of Fitchburg Committee allocates $6.5 million to the building project.
  • September 2022 - The City approves a bond of $40,000,000 to fund the project. This bonded amount will be funded by the MBLC grant, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, City monies, and a capital campaign aimed at raising $3,500,000 in support of the project.
  • December 2022 - The Fitchburg Historical Commission issues a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project.
  • June 2023 - FPL receives additional $1.5 million in expansion funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) to offset rising construction and labor costs.
  • July 2023 - Fitchburg is first in line to be offered the $12,449,949 Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) that was awarded in 2017.
  • Early Fall 2023 - The anticipated selection of contractor.
  • Fall 2023 - The anticipated relocation of the Library to the temporary space at 166 Boulder Drive.
  • Late Fall 2023 - The anticipated groundbreaking.
  • Summer 2025 - The anticipated opening of the renovated and expanded Fitchburg Public Library.