U.S. Rep. Haridopolos secures $2 million for future Fellsmere Library, Community Center
FELLSMERE — For years, community leaders in Fellsmere sought to create a one-stop shop that residents could use as a library as well as a community center for a wealth of resources. Now, U.S. Representative Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) is helping to launch that vision.
Haridopolos recently secured $2 million in federal funding to go toward constructing the long-awaited Fellsmere Public Library and Community Resource Center. The congressman said the new facility will be a game-changer for the small, rural town with a population of a little more than 5,000 people.
“My job was to listen to the local community, see what they needed, and bring some of the resources that we have in Washington so that those seed dollars can make this thing bloom,” said Haridopolos, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “This is a vision that the local community leaders had. We’re optimistic over the next few years this will come to fruition.”
The investment is part of $22.1 million in federal funding that Haridopolos secured for a variety of projects in Brevard and Indian River counties. The projects address clean water and environmental restoration, infrastructure upgrades, public safety improvements and workforce education training.
Haridopolos stopped by the Marsh Landing Restaurant on Wednesday in Fellsmere before heading to the small but historic Marian Fell Library, 63 N. Cypress Street. Dozens gathered at the library, originally built in 1915, to hear the congressman speak about federal funds invested to the new library and community center.
Marsh Landing Restaurant is co-owned by Fran Adams and her daughter, Indian River County Commissioner Susan Adams.
“The frog legs are fantastic,” Haridopolos said.
Haridopolos said the new library and community center will help residents succeed without leaving their community by removing barriers to essential services, education and job training. The new facility will have the following features:
- Full-service library with physical and digital resources, literacy programs, tutoring, and youth spaces
- Small business incubator to support entrepreneurs and start ups
- Workforce development and job readiness training areas
- Broadband-enabled technology labs for digital learning and entrepreneurship
- On-site human services and veteran support offices
- Nonprofit Collaboration Offices
- Innovation Hub and eSports Lab
- Green Room and Recording Studio
- Imaginarium Indoor Play Area
- Flexible Classrooms and Meeting Spaces
Annie Mae Brown, the visionary behind the mission to build the Fellsmere Public Library and Community Resource Center, said the new building will be beneficial for children who have nowhere to go after school. The Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County, located in Fellsmere, can only service so many students, said Brown, who is a lifelong Fellsmere resident, activist and associate pastor of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
“God gave me the vision to keep pushing for our children. I always felt like God gave me the vision because he knew I wouldn’t quit. I started working in the community when I was 13 years old,” said Brown, who is the president of the Fellsmere Action Community Team. “When you live in a small community such as Fellsmere, you watch the children grow up. Those that go to college don’t come back. Those are our future leaders. For the ones that are left here, mom is working and dad is working…so where are the children when they get out of school?”
Brown said the investment toward the new facility is a blessing.
The project is in the initial planning stages, Adams said. The initiative is a community-wide partnership that includes the city of Fellsmere, Fellsmere Action Community Team, Indian River County Community Services, Literacy Services of Indian River County, Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative, Career Source, United Way of Indian River County, United Against Poverty, Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, the School District of Indian River County and Sebastian River High School.
“There’s a huge amount of community partners. (The facility) will be a community hub under the umbrella of a library,” said Adams, who was born and raised in Fellsmere. “Fellsmere is my home. Anything we can do to help the residents of Fellsmere and help the community I think is amazing. This project is one of the coolest things we’ve done in a long time. I’m super happy to be part of it.”
The estimated total cost for the Fellsmere Public Library and Community Resource Center is $15 million. Officials are working to obtain grants and partnerships to close the gap.
The new building will be located in northeast Fellsmere close to the Trans-Florida Central Railroad Trail and near parks, Adams said. Adams said officials will work with the city of Fellsmere to pinpoint an exact location for the space within the year before moving to Phase II – construction.
Haridopolos said he was able to obtain money for the facility through Community Project Funding, which allows members of Congress to direct federal funds to high-impact local projects.
Fellsmere Mayor Jessica Salgado, who was raised in the rural town, said the funding toward the new library and community resource center was exciting. Salgado, who’s also a member of the Fellsmere Action Community Team, said it was an honor to have the congressman make the seed investment toward the community resource hub project.
“Growing up I wish I had those resources. I want the next generation to have that availability to do that,” Salgado said.