Lowe’s Awards $50,000 Grant to Transform KHCPL South Branch Outdoor Space
A big dream for the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library is officially becoming a reality and a $50,000 investment from Lowe’s is helping make it happen.
According to information provided to The Kokomo Post in a press release from the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, KHCPL has been selected to receive a $50,000 Lowe’s Community Impact Grant to transform and expand the outdoor community space at the library’s South Branch.
The project is one of just 100 community projects selected nationwide in 2026 through Lowe’s Community Impact Grants and will allow the library to tackle several improvements that have long been on its “bucket list.”
Big Changes Coming to the South Branch
The $50,000 grant will be used to improve the outdoor area surrounding the South Branch’s Firefly Stage and community gardens. Planned improvements include:
Installing a sidewalk to make the Firefly Stage more accessible
Adding family-style seating
Revitalizing the Community Garden
Revitalizing the Butterfly Garden
While the improvements will give the space a fresh look, one of the biggest impacts will be making it easier for more members of the community to enjoy it.
The new sidewalk will provide better access to the Firefly Stage for patrons with mobility challenges as well as parents navigating the space with strollers. With the stage already serving as a gathering place for family-friendly live performances and activities, the renovation will help make those experiences accessible to even more people.
“We are beyond thrilled to transform this outdoor space at the South Branch,” said Caele Pemberton, director of marketing and community outreach at KHCPL. “Our South Branch team has worked so hard to make the Firefly Stage and gardens a beautiful gathering space for family friendly live performances, and this grant will allow us to make the space more accessible so everyone in our community can join us. Thanks to Lowe’s and their incredible support, we can make this a welcoming space for all.”
Kokomo Project Selected From Thousands of Nominations
KHCPL’s project was selected from more than 5,000 nominations submitted through Lowe’s Community Bucket List.
The grant is part of Lowe’s larger Community Impact program, which is investing $10 million in Community Impact Grants this year, along with another $10 million to support more than 2,000 projects led by Lowe’s associates across the country.
Those projects are designed to address needs unique to individual communities — from expanding food pantries and improving shelters to renovating facilities for veterans and first responders and, right here in Howard County, breathing new life into an outdoor space designed to bring the community together.
The investment is part of Lowe’s five-year, $100 million commitment to revitalizing and restoring community spaces across the country.
For KHCPL, that nationwide investment will have a very local impact: creating a South Branch outdoor space that is more accessible, welcoming and ready for even more Howard County families to enjoy.
Community members can learn more about Lowe’s Community Impact Projects and follow projects across the country at Lowes.com/HowWeHelp or by following #HowLowesHelps on social media.
