VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, during their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, unanimously approved the acceptance of a $250,000 donation from the Ventura Friends of the Library (VFOL) to support the E.P. Foster Library Building Forward Grant Project. The donation will help meet required local matching funds for the state-funded renovation project at the E.P. Foster Library in downtown Ventura. As part of the action, the Board also authorized the necessary budget adjustments to formally receive and allocate the funds, with no additional cost to the County’s General Fund.
“This generous donation reflects the power of community partnerships,” shared Chair of the Board Jeff Gorell. “The support of Ventura Friends of the Library helps us secure critical funding to modernize the E.P. Foster Library with upgrades that will improve safety, accessibility, and comfort for residents. These improvements will ensure the library can continue serving as a vital community resource and even provide a safe cooling space during extreme heat.”
The E.P. Foster Library project is supported by a $8,726,671 Building Forward Grant awarded by the California State Library. The grant requires a 50 percent local match of $4,363,329, bringing the total project budget to $13,090,001.
The County and its partners have worked collaboratively to secure the required matching funds. In addition to the newly approved $250,000 donation from the Ventura Friends of the Library, the project includes $2,181,665 from the City of Ventura. Of that amount, $750,000 comes from federal Community Development Block Grant funds secured by the City, and $1,431,665 is funded directly by the City. The match also includes $750,000 in County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds previously approved by the Board, as well as $1,431,665 from the Library’s reserves, also previously approved by the Board.
With the acceptance of the VFOL donation, the County continues to strengthen the financial foundation of this important capital improvement project.
“We are profoundly grateful to our Ventura Friends of the Library for their extraordinary generosity,” said Ventura County Library Director Nancy Schram. “Because they are a local grassroots organization that raises funds for the Ventura Libraries through community contributions, everyone who has supported the Friends has made this possible. This donation plays a key role in strengthening the E.P. Foster Library as a welcoming space for learning, connection, and opportunity for everyone in our community.”
The Building Forward Grant Program was created to help public libraries modernize aging facilities, improve accessibility, and expand services to meet evolving community needs. Planned upgrades at the E.P. Foster Library will address critical infrastructure improvements and ensure the building remains safe, welcoming, and functional for years to come.
The busiest branch in the Ventura County Library system, E.P. Foster Library is located in the heart of downtown Ventura and serves as a hub for reading programs and community gatherings, as well as offers research and technological resources for job seekers and students. Improvements supported by this funding will help maintain reliable building systems and enhance the overall experience for visitors.
Community members who would like to learn more about the E.P. Foster Library renovation project or support Ventura County libraries can visit: library.venturacounty.gov/epfoster
