WASHINGTON --- Senator Chuck Grassley said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has approved temporary relocation assistance for the Cedar Rapids Main Library, in response to a second appeal on behalf of the City and due to the damage caused by severe storms and flooding last year.
As a result, $379,127 in federal funds will be available for the lease of a temporary facility to operate the public library for approximately 18 months during construction of the library building, according to FEMA.
“Modern libraries provide important access to information for local residents, and this assistance is a legitimate part of FEMA helping Cedar Rapids recover and rebuild,” Grassley said. While the Cedar Rapids public library was in the midst of fighting the flood in its main building, metro-area branches helped organize meetings and referred citizens to federal, state and local agencies involved in the disaster response.”