Flagler County will break ground at 1 p.m. August 5 for its “Nexus Center” – a multi-purpose facility to house both a new library and the county’s Health and Human Services Department off Central Commerce Parkway (near Wendy’s) across from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Operations Center.
“There were times when I felt this day would never come,” said Assistant County Administrator Holly Albanese. “We have been working for nine years to get expanded space for the Library here in Bunnell, and this Nexus Center will achieve that and so much more.”
The nearly 5-acre site for the center was purchased in 2020. The 23,000 square-foot building was proposed by Albanese in 2022 as a “joint facility” that would also accommodate the Health and Human Services Department – and services like congregate meals for seniors and community rooms – was made possible through the many-year effort to build a new branch library.
Passport revenues generated by the Flagler County Public Library – more than $1 million – were used to purchase the property on which the Nexus Center will sit as well as pay for the architectural design.
Albanese secured a $500,000 Public Library State Construction Grant in 2023 for the building. She also garnered another $4 million in February (2024) as part of a total of $223 million to expand broadband internet access to all Floridians with $86 million of those funds for the Multipurpose Community Facilities Program.
Another $800,000 was made available through the Florida Division of Emergency Management Disaster Recovery Program to cover costs for “Code Plus” design and construction elements. Additionally, $750,000 was provided from the Library Impact Fees that the county now generates.
“I am so proud of Holly,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “She worked so hard and did such a great job bringing this money into Flagler County.”
Flagler County has another $9.1 million earmarked for this project.
