FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Johnson
January 14, 2008
(701) 328-2124

$273,000 IN CULTURAL HERITAGE GRANTS AWARDED BY STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO 44 RECIPIENTS THROUGHOUT NORTH DAKOTA

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s history agency has awarded more than $273,000 in Cultural Heritage Grants to distribute for the coming year to 44 eligible organizations throughout the state.

Under the guidelines, a maximum of $10,000 and a minimum of $500 is available per grant, with a dollar-for-dollar match requirement.  That match may be either in cash or in-kind services.  Funding for this round of grants was approved by the 2007 Legislative Assembly.

“We are delighted with the tremendous response to this program,” said Merl Paaverud, Director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.  “It was a challenging task to review and make the choices from so many outstanding proposals, and shows the real need locally for this kind of support.  We hope to continue the State Historical Society’s grant program in the future, and appreciate the efforts of the North Dakota Legislature in making this program a reality.”

The following are those organizations awarded grants, the amounts they received, and a brief description of their project:

• Almont Historical Society, Almont- $5,750 for roof and window repair at the Almont Heritage Park Museum.
• Barnes County Historical Society, Valley City - $5,000 to assist with publication of Valley City’s 125th Anniversary book.
• Beulah Convention and Visitors Bureau, Beulah - $4,000 to assist with a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit entitled Between Fences.
• Bismarck Art and Galleries Association, Bismarck - $2,518 for gallery window replacement at the Bismarck Art and Galleries Association.
• Bismarck - Mandan Historical and Genealogical Society, Bismarck - $3,500 to assist with a genealogy workshop.
• Bowdon Development Center, Inc., Bowdon - $8,000 to the Bowdon Centennial Museum and Library for building rehabilitation and window replacement.
• Bowman County Historical and Genealogical Society, Bowman - $10,000 to assist with a new roof and other improvements to the antique machinery building at the Pioneer Trails Regional Museum.
• Bridges Art Council, Valley City - $10,000 to assist with planning for rehabilitation of the Valley City Auditorium.
• Buxton in Bloom, Buxton - $10,000 to help with rehabilitation of the old Buxton Bank.
• Cass County Historical Society, West Fargo - $10,000 for rehabilitation of the roof and chimney of the Dobrinz School at Bonanzaville.
• Cavalier Arts and Crafts Society, Cavalier - $3,000 for enhancement of the Cavalier High School art gallery.
• City of Enderlin, Enderlin - $7,500 for rehabilitation of the Enderlin City Auditorium.
• City of Fargo Park District, Fargo - $2,000 for the park district’s Celtic Festival.
• Dakota Buttes Historical Society, Hettinger - $10,000 for roof repair and improved drainage at the Dakota Buttes Museum.
• Divide County Public Library, Crosby - $1,325 to assist with the purchase of a microfilm scanner and laser printer.
• Ellendale Historical Society, Ellendale - $3,500 for tuck pointing of the brickwork on the Coleman Memorial Museum.
• Gordon B. Olson Library, Minot - $1,231 to assist with website development and creation of a searchable database for Minot State University’s American Indian artifact collection.
• Green School Community Center, Valley City - $7,575 to help with window replacement and painting of the former Green Consolidated School.
• Hazelton Historical Society, Hazelton - $7,450 to assist with rehabilitation of the floor at the Elise Perras Museum in Hazelton.
• Hillsboro Community Partnership, Hillsboro - $10,000 to help with roof replacement of the Union Block building in Hillsboro.
• Historic Alderman School Association, Valley City - $1,840 to assist with painting, window repair, and installation of an interpretive kiosk at the former Alderman School located north of Valley City.
• Jamestown Fine Arts Association, Jamestown - $4,000 to assist with the association’s “Culture Festival.”
• Kathryn Heritage Alliance, Valley City - $5,000 for installation of a heating system in the former brick bank building in Kathryn.
• Lake County Historical Society, Kenmare - $10,000 to assist with construction of a building to house an exhibit of printing equipment.
• Lake Region Pioneer Daughters, Inc., Devils Lake - $2,500 to assist with the purchase of a new computer and software for the Lake Region Pioneer Daughters.
• Lidgerwood Museum, Lidgerwood - $2,500 to assist with construction of an exterior entrance to the lower level of the museum.
• Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art, Minot - $3,000 to help upgrade the heating and cooling system for the museum.
• Manfred History and Preservation, Inc., Manfred - $10,000 to assist with rehabilitation and exhibits for the Melby/Rogness house and garage.
• Marmarth Research Foundation, Marmarth - $10,000 to assist with the relocation of building to back to Marmarth to be used as a natural history museum. 
• Mental Health America of North Dakota - $5,000 to assist with an exhibit about the North Dakota State Hospital.
• Nelson County Historical Society, Pekin - $10,000 to assist Nelson County Historical Society’s Stump Lake Village with construction of exhibits, electrical wiring, and lighting.
• North Dakota Art Gallery Association, Minot - $5,000 to assist with a traveling exhibit.
• North Dakota State Railroad Museum, Mandan- $3,500 to provide security fencing at the North Dakota State Railroad Museum. 
• North Dakota State University Center for Community Development and Design, Fargo - $10,000 to document former school buildings in Bowdon and Sykesdon for future rehabilitation.
• Organization of the People in Ellendale for the Restoration of the Arts (O.P.E.R.A.), Ellendale - $7,795 for rehabilitation of the flooring in the Ellendale Opera House.
• Ox Cart Trails Historical Society, Drayton - $5,000 to assist with Drayton’s Heritage “Village Square” project.
• Save Coghlan Castle, Rolla - $10,000 for emergency stabilization of a historic building north of Rolla.
• Save The Hens Foundation, Sheldon - $7,000 for rehabilitation of the Mizpah Lodge Building in Sheldon.
• Ward County Historical Society, Minot - $5,000 for installation of a new heating and air-conditioning system in Ward County Historical Society’s Harmon House.
• Wells County Fair Association, Fessenden - $10,000 for rehabilitation of the period grandstand at the Wells County Fairgrounds.
• West Fargo Public Library, West Fargo - $4,805 for purchase of microfilm and microfilm reader for public use.
• Williston State College Foundation, Williston - $5,000 for preservation, cataloging, and selective digitization of the William “Bill” Shemorry collection.
• Wimbledon Community Museum, Inc., Wimbledon - $5,427.50 for development of a conceptual plan and exhibit design for the Midland Continental Depot.

The State Historical Society’s Cultural Heritage Grant program is for the 2007-09 biennium, which ends June 30, 2009.  Projects funded during this grant cycle must be completed by April 20, 2009.

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