JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Officials said the Jackson Hinds Library System is set to receive a $3.7 million dollar grant for the Eudora Welty Library Recovery Project.

In March 2023, the City of Jackson’s Office of Planning & Development and Library Board prepared a HUD Congressional Directed Spending Grant request at the invitation of the Office of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).

Officials said the senator called on Friday afternoon to inform Board Chairman Peyton Smith to congratulate the Library System, and inform the Board that the appropriations bill was headed to President Joe Biden’s desk for signature.

On Saturday March 9, 2024, Biden signed the $460 billion spending bill which includes the historic funding for Jackson’s Eudora Welty Library. The funding is a restricted grant to go towards a new Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson.