The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation (GWCHF) has approved a $250,000 strategic grant to support the expansion and renovation of the L.D. Fargo Public Library in Lake Mills, advancing early childhood development, literacy, and family engagement throughout the community.
The grant will support enhancements to the library’s Children’s Area, with a strong focus on TalkReadPlay strategies that promote early brain development and school readiness. Planned improvements include expanded early literacy programming space, a Creative Play area, caregiver-friendly amenities, and gathering spaces designed to foster learning and connection among children and families.
“This investment reflects our commitment to creating environments where children and caregivers can thrive,” said Ben Wehmier, President and CEO of the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation. “Libraries play a critical role in early learning, and this project aligns closely with our TalkReadPlay priorities by expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based experiences for young children and their families”.
The Lake Mills Library expansion is part of a $5 million public–private partnership, with the City of Lake Mills committing up to $2.5 million in matching funds. The revised project plan features a one-story expansion, adopted in 2025, that reduces overall costs while increasing usable space, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening long-term sustainability. Construction is targeted for 2026, contingent on the completion of remaining fundraising goals.
More than half of the new square footage will be dedicated to children and families, addressing current space limitations that restrict programming and access. The expansion will allow the library to increase early literacy program attendance, enhance caregiver engagement, and introduce measurable outcomes tied to TalkReadPlay-aligned practices, including staff training and program evaluation.
The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation (GWCHF) works to inspire collaboration, mobilize resources, and encourage innovation that measurably improves community wellbeing. Created in 2015 out of the joint venture transaction between Watertown Regional Medical Center and Lifepoint Health, the Foundation has invested more than $51 million to support strong families and thriving communities across Dodge and Jefferson Counties. The Foundation has been recognized for its model land redevelopment approach by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association and is a recipient of the Social Enterprise of the Year Award from Milwaukee BizTimes.The Foundation frequently shares its thought leadership and community-driven approaches at national, state, and local convenings.
To learn more about the foundation and supported initiatives, visit www.watertownhealthfoundation.com.