Park Offers Workshop for 2010 Keweenaw Heritage Grants

Date: December 1, 2009
Contact: Tom Baker, Management Assistant, 906-483-3016

Please Note: Due to the Blizzard Warning issued by the National Weather Service, tonight's workshop has been postponed until January.

(Calumet, MI) The National Park Service at Keweenaw National Historical Park and the Keweenaw NHP Advisory Commission are offering a workshop to prepare potential applicants for the 2010 Keweenaw Heritage Grants program. The targeted audiences for the workshop are owners and operators of historic property, and providers of copper-related history programs within the counties of Houghton, Keweenaw, or Ontonagon, or the portion of Baraga County north of M-38.

The workshop will be held at Park Headquarters, located at the corner of Red Jacket Road and US-41 in Calumet on Tuesday evening, December 8 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. All potential applicants for the 2010 Keweenaw Heritage Grants program are strongly encouraged to attend.

The workshop will focus on the various types of projects that potential grantees may want to consider. NPS professional staff will be on hand to advise attendees on issues related to planning a successful project and submitting an application that will compete well. Discussions will include examples of past project awards, sample applications, and the evaluation process.

This will be the first year that the Keweenaw NHP Advisory Commission will also be offering grants in the program. Advisory Commission grants will be available to all owners and operators of historic properties, and providers of copper-related programs within the counties of Houghton, Keweenaw, or Ontonagon, or the portion of Baraga County north of M-38. Advisory Commission grants will be subject to a 1-to-1 match as well, although up to 100% of the match may be in-kind rather than cash. Designated Keweenaw Heritage Sites will receive funding priority for Advisory Commission grants, although all applications will be considered. The Advisory Commission will have $50,000 available for grants.

National Park Service grants will be available to owners of historic property within the Calumet and Quincy units of the park. NPS grants are also subject to a 1-to-1 cash match, in accordance with the current park legislation. The NPS will have up to $50,000 available for its grants.

The purpose of the 2010 grants will be to provide enhancement funds for a broad range of projects and programs including historic structure preservation, interpretation, museum collection management and organizational sustainability.

For NPS grants, greater consideration will be given to proposals that address accessibility, safety, and organizational sustainability. Grants for both the Advisory Commission and the NPS will range between $1,000 and $50,000. Projects will be selected for funding based on answers submitted in the application, available funds, and a balance of project types and location. There will be one application to apply for both funding sources. Grant funds will typically be available to successful grantees by June 15, 2010.  

While final applications will tentatively be due in April, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this first workshop to avail themselves of professional advice and assistance with planning efforts.

For additional information, please call park headquarters at 906-337-3168 or email us.