BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

RENSSELAER FALLS—Roughly half of the library renovation project taking place in Rensselaer Falls will be complete this summer, but more money will be needed before work can be finished on its interior.

Renovation work at the library began this spring, establishing the shell of the new community space and installing windows and doors.

The second half of the nearly $1 million project will establish a library space roughly double the size of current facilities, make the village’s municipal offices more accessible by bringing them upstairs, and establish a year-round emergency shelter for protection from extreme weather.

But before that can happen, the village of Rensselaer Falls needs to come up with about $400,000 in additional funding, Mayor Michael Hammond told North Country This Week.

Hammond said a New York state Pro Housing grant originally intended to fund the interior second phase of the project was pulled this spring, leaving the village to explore other possible avenues to finish the work.

The mayor has spoken with state and local representatives as well as businesses to explore funding possibilities, but noted some potential difficulty in securing funding right away, saying that the “peak season” window to apply for many state and federal programs has recently passed.

Hammond says he has spoken with Andrea Smith from National Grid, and noted that the power utility is likely interested in helping with the project, which will ultimately be a net zero-emissions building through the use of heat pumps and solar panels.

He has also spoken with Pat Kelly of the St. Lawrence County IDA to discuss funding possibilities, and will also explore what assistance can be attained through local manufacturer Corning.

Hammond described the library project as “overdue” and said that once complete the complex will be “the hub of our village.”

The initial phase of construction is being completed by Gouverneur-based Northern Tier. Mayor Hammond said he would like the same company to complete the interior work once funding is secured, but said details will continue to change with the project’s moving targets.

So far, the project has been bankrolled through a $400,000 state Local Government Efficiency grant and $150,000 in library construction aid.