1-26-2024 7:59pm

Warren County Foundation/19Services Awarded An America 250-Ohio Grant

Beth Callahan Editor

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- The America 250-Ohio Commission is excited to announce grant awards that help fund 23 community-based projects throughout Ohio, including a project in Warren County. Warren County Foundation/19Services will be receiving a grant for a project titled “Preserving History through Video Interviews.” The video interviews will feature two instrumental women – Urcelle Willis and Lucy McCarren.

"The Harveysburg Community Historical Society is seeking to preserve historical memories through video interviews. The video Interviews would be of two instrumental women: Urcelle Willis, (who is approaching her mid 90’s) along with Lucy McCarren (who is approaching 100). Both women have personal stories along with historical information that would be imperative to be preserved for historical purposes. The Harveysburg Community Historical Society would like to utilize the services for the interview through ‘History in Your Own Backyard’ for future educational purposes. This program and the services they offer would also include posting the video through various media outlets and websites for the story can be told in a variety of ways, thus spreading the word further of the Harveysburg First Free Black School," states America 250-Ohio website.

As Ohio prepares to celebrate and commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, America 250-Ohio, the official state commission charged with leading Ohio’s recognition of the semiquincentennial, awarded $398,240 in grants to 23 communities and organizations across 15 Ohio counties as part of the commission’s first funding cycle. More than 70 organizations throughout the state submitted applications for the grants program, which is managed in partnership with Ohio Humanities. Projects funded in this round must be completed between March 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025.

Details about all 23 grant recipients can be found on the America 250-Ohio blog.

"There has been a strong response to the America 250-Ohio grants program, with applications submitted from counties all across Ohio," said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director at the America 250-Ohio Commission. “The commission takes great pride in supporting each of these projects and recognizes their potential for a lasting impact that extends far beyond the commemoration of 2026. We are thrilled to see so many meaningful ways Ohioans are coming together to create memories during this significant milestone in our nation's history."

The grants program is designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations, and significance of all people in Ohio since before its founding to the present day. The winter 2024 funding cycle is now open with applications due March 15, 2024. During this round, the America 250-Ohio Commission will award approximately $600,000 in grant funding. The period of performance for winter 2024 recipients will be June 15, 2024, through May 31, 2025. Eligible parties must be non-profits registered within the State of Ohio, educational, and local governmental organizations located in Ohio. Individual artists, authors, or performers must apply through a non-profit fiscal agent/sponsor. For more information on eligibility, project guidance and information on applying for a grant, visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/.

The America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program offers two funding levels. The Buckeye Impact Grants offer up to $50,000 for projects with a statewide, regional or significant local impact. These projects may include significant exhibitions, regional commemorative activities, substantial digital and documentary media projects and signature public events. The Trillium Local Activity Grants offer up to $5,000 for projects with a local or community-wide impact. Trillium Local Activity Grant projects may include exhibitions, interpretative panels, local commemorative programs or activities, local public events, educational, public programs, and smaller digital and documentary media projects.