Six U.P. organizations awarded America250MI History grants
The America250MI program is a state-level initiative that provides funding to help local historical organizations develop projects as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebration.
What’s happening: Six Upper Peninsula organizations will benefit from the America250MI History Grant Program, bringing in monetary resources to help protect local history and make it more accessible to future generations. The organizations will receive between $4,700 to $50,000. Some award winners like Northern Michigan University’s Beaumier Heritage Center, Munising School Public Library and Grand Marais Historical Society will focus on specific programming, while others like the Straits Area Cultural Center, Painesdale Mine and Shaft, Inc. and Negaunee Historical Society will work on intellectual infrastructure projects like digitation.
What is AMERICA250MI: In celebration of the coutnry’s 250th anniversary, the America250MI program is a state-level initiative that provides funding to develop projects celebrating that milestone. Grants are awarded for educational programming, community events, preservation work and exhibits that promote historical awareness. The program is administered by a partnership of the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan History Center with funding through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
What they’re saying: “Michigan is defined by generations of hardworking people who contributed diverse chapters to our collective story of what it means to be Americans and Michiganders,” said Sandra Clark, who is director of the Michigan History Center. “Last June, the first round of the program awarded more than 50 projects around the state. As we start to see those efforts move toward completion, it’s exciting to anticipate Round 2 projects getting underway – all in commemoration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
What’s next: The six U.P. groups will start work on their various projects, joining other award winners across Michigan’s two peninsulas.
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