Erin Hill
Gadsden County News Service
Gadsden County officials broke ground Wednesday on a $4 million expansion of the Cowen Public Library, launching a project intended to expand access to education, workforce development, technology and telehealth services for residents in Chattahoochee and the surrounding area.
Funded through the Florida Department of Commerce using American Rescue Plan Act funds, the project includes an approximately 4,000-square-foot addition to the existing library.
According to Gadsden County, the expansion will include four telehealth offices, allowing residents to connect with health care providers through virtual appointments. The project also will add office and meeting space for workforce development programs, including job training, career counseling and employment assistance.
Plans call for a computer lab, flexible learning areas and dedicated youth spaces designed to support learning, creativity and collaboration. County officials said the facility is intended to provide a welcoming place for children, teens and families to gather outside of home and school while increasing access to technology and educational resources.
The addition also includes sidewalks, a parking area, restrooms and operational facilities, creating a fully functional extension of the existing library. A central gathering area will provide space for library programs, computer access, educational activities, community events and other public uses.
County officials said the expansion represents an investment in community infrastructure that will improve access to services and create additional opportunities for residents to connect, learn and work closer to home.
