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Etna Center for Community

The Etna Center for Community (ECC) is a mixed-use redevelopment of a historic building in the heart of Etna’s business district and will provide the community’s only indoor public space. To revitalize the main street, the ground floor will serve as a public library / community center and the upper two floors will provide

Library
Service

Read how the library works >
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Community
Vision

See the goals for the development >

Development
Team

Get to know the project leaders >
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Building
Design

Check out the plans and renderings >

Capital
Campaign

View our fundraising efforts >

Backstory for the Etna Center for Community

For our community

How do we rebuild the town in a way that benefits everyone and leaves no one behind?

Etna and its people have experienced so many hardships: catastrophic job loss, tragic flood events, unequal school regionalization to name a few. Yet, Etna has found a way to bounce back from each event showing that it is a resilient community with irrepressible people. How do we ensure that the residents have the resources they need to weather the next storm?

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ECC Backstory
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For our children

How do we ensure that Etna's youth have what they need to compete in the 21st century?

At present, the kids that grow up in Etna are at an alarming disadvantage to their neighbors. Within our community, there are no daycares, schools, after-school programs, or indoor public spaces such as a library. We do not have educational assets, supportive resources, or spaces to access technology. There's nowhere for individuals or families to go to get the help they need. Without these essential tools and places, how can our children succeed in this increasing competitive world?

For our future

How do we create spaces that our protect our health and the environments in which we live?

So much of what is constructed today is unsustainable: fossil-fuel dependent, filled with toxic materials, and out-of-reach for the average working family. It reinforces economic disparities and cares not for our neighborhood, our watershed, or the air we breathe. With development adding so little benefit to the community it is located, how do we balance the scales? When the land around us is increasingly privatized, how do we keep a piece for ourselves and future generations?

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Why the Etna Center for Community is so important to Etna's future?

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Zero

Public Spaces

Residents of Etna have no indoor public places to meet one another, to host programs, or to access resources

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35%

Households

One-third of Etna's residents do not have internet access at home. In addition, there are no public access points.

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640

Children

Etna's youth are without access to a library, childcare,  after-school programs in their community.

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$26k

per capita income

The average Etna resident earns 2/3 compared to their neighbors leaving less to spend on transit, education.

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What Our Neighbors Are Saying:

"We really need a library within walking distance.
We don't own a car and buses don't connect us to the other libraries. We're stranded with nowhere to go."

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