Gadsden County Secures $2M in Grants for Havana Library Upgrades

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Gadsden County has secured $2 million in grants to fund improvements to the library in Havana, Florida. The original plan was to add another story to the building with an elevator, but the cost of the elevator alone would have taken up a quarter of the funding. Instead, the county has requested to expand the library outward rather than upward, allowing them to use the elevator funds for other enhancements like a theater room or workforce development capabilities.

Why it matters

The library upgrades will provide the Havana community with expanded services and amenities, improving access to educational resources and community spaces. Expanding the library's footprint rather than adding a new story will allow for more efficient use of the grant funding.

The details

Havana Town Manager Kendrah Wilkerson says the change in design will allow the library to have a larger overall footprint and provide better services to the community. The original plan to add an elevator would have consumed a significant portion of the $2 million budget, so the county requested to redirect those funds toward other enhancements.

• The grants were secured in February 2026.

What’s next

The county will now work to relocate the elevator funding toward the expanded footprint design for the Havana library.