Sevier County is set to bolster its educational architecture with the addition of a state-of-the-art library facility, thanks to a sizeable state grant. The Tennessee Secretary of State, Tre Hargett, alongside Rep. Andrew Farmer (R - Sevierville), celebrated the presentation of a $200,000 Library Construction Grant to the Sevier County Public Library System for its new project in Kodak. The funds were disbursed on Friday, and according to reports by WATE, this sum is the largest ever granted to a local library through this program.
The forthcoming Gilreath Family Kodak Branch Library promises to be an 11,000-square-foot facility highlighted by more than a 2,000 sq/ft. of versatile meeting space designed to meet the community's evolving literary and technological requirements. WBIR outlined the initiative's focus on creating a dedicated children's area aimed to support the county's young minds.
“Libraries are an important hub for their communities, and the new Kodak Branch Library will increase and modernize resources for the citizens of Sevier County,” Hargett stated. The enthusiasm is mirrored by local officials who envision this project as an essential community asset. In a statement obtained by WATE, Hargett expressed pleasure in this investment fueling the enrichment of current and future generations.
The current library building, which has outlived its usefulness, will be retired as the grant helps to foot the bill for this new, expansive library space. The Sevier County Library System is on an ambitious path, hoping to accumulate a total of $1.2 million for the project. Rhonda Tippitt, the Sevier County Library Director, conveyed her excitement in an interview with WVLT, stating, “We’re just excited to see it happen. We’re having a groundbreaking next week, and hopefully, after that, two to three weeks, shovels will be in the ground, and we’ll start to see the new library start to be built—from the ground. It’s so nice to see something grow out of the ground.” The groundbreaking ceremony is earmarked for the following Tuesday, signifying a new chapter in Sevier County’s commitment to education and public resources.
