Date: May 9, 2017
Contact: Scott See, 906-483-3040
Contact: Wendy Davis, 906-483-3020
(Calumet, MI) The Keweenaw NHP Advisory Commission and the National Park Service at Keweenaw National Historical Park announce that 24 Keweenaw Heritage Grants were awarded for projects throughout Upper Michigan’s Copper Country. The grants were distributed both inside and outside of the Quincy and Calumet Units of the park, with an emphasis on reaching the park’s 21 Keweenaw Heritage Sites. Grant award notifications were welcomed by a variety of organizations actively engaged in preserving and interpreting the history of copper on the Keweenaw.
The purpose of the Keweenaw Heritage Grant program is to provide partial funding for a broad range of heritage-related projects. Grant recipients are required to meet a 1-to-1 match, with up to 100% of the match allowed as in-kind contributions rather than cash. This year, the grant review panel awarded a total of $150,148 to 24 applicants, with individual grants ranging from $1,500 to $15,000. Successful project proposals included building preservation, interpretation, museum collection and artifact preservation work.
A total of 31 proposals were received for consideration and were evaluated by a panel consisting of three Advisory Commission members and three NPS staff members. Applications were reviewed using criteria such as: historical significance of the related resource; how the project would increase understanding of the region’s copper history; longevity the project; and overall impact to people living and visiting the Keweenaw.
The Keweenaw NHP Advisory Commission and the NPS staff offer thanks and congratulations to the community for their interest in providing a high level of stewardship for the heritage-based resources of the Copper Country.
