Governor McKee, Town of Bristol, Kick Off $1.9 Million Community Learning Center Project

Published on Tuesday, September 30, 2025

BRISTOL, RI – With golden sledgehammers in hand, Governor Dan McKee and Bristol Town Administrator Steve Contente oversaw the ceremonial launch of $1.9 million in renovations to the Rogers Free Library for a new Community Learning Center, part of the Governor’s Learn365RI initiative. When completed in 2026, the new center will include education, job development, and health monitoring programs for all ages.

“The Community Learning Center initiative is creating gathering spaces and high-value programming that can change local culture around education,” said Governor McKee. “Each of the more than 20 centers throughout Rhode Island will have a different layout and a different feel, but all will make a real and positive impact on their surrounding communities.”

Renovations to Rogers Free Library will include new private rooms for confidential telehealth meetings, tutoring, workforce development programs, and online job interviews that occur on the mezzanine level of the original 1877 library building and the third floor of the 2006 building addition.

Also in the 2006 building addition, a new Makerspace room will be created to facilitate creative and hands-on learning for community members. The room will be arranged so that both classroom instruction and small group or individual learning can take place.

“Rogers Free Library is a well-known and well-utilized resource for our residents, so it was a natural fit for Governor McKee’s Community Learning Center initiative,” said Library Director Eileen Dyer. “We will be working closely with community partners to deliver on that vision for the people of Bristol.”

A McKee Administration signature initiative, community learning centers around the state are being funded through $82 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Funds.