BIRCH BAY, Wash. – A potential new library in Birch Bay just cleared a major funding hurdle.

The Washington state Legislature approved the reallocation of a $2 million grant, which had originally been approved to build a library on the site of the historic Vogt home.

Ballot measures to further fund the project failed twice and a request to reduce the size of the project to a “library express” was denied by state legislators earlier this year.

However, community support for the “library express” model led legislators to change their minds.

The project involves renovating the Vogt home, which was purchased by the Whatcom County Library System in 2017.

Another $300,000 is still needed to fully fund the “library express.”

Volunteers with Friends of Birch Bay Library will be hosting fundraisers and reaching out to community members in order to secure the remaining costs.