Ohio History Fund Grant Recipients Announced on Statehood Day, March 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ohio History Connection awarded seven organizations Ohio History Fund grants. The Ohio History Fund is a competitive matching grants program that is one of six "tax check-off" funds found on Ohio's income tax forms and funded through Ohio taxpayers' voluntary contributions.

"The Ohio History Fund allows us to preserve and share Ohio stories by supporting local projects in communities throughout the state," said Burt Logan, executive director & CEO of the Ohio History Connection. "This important work by local history organizations strengthens our understanding of the past, leads us to a better future and ensures Ohio's stories are told for years to come."

Since 2013, the Ohio History Fund has made 52 grants to history organizations, totaling over half a million dollars.

This year's recipients are:

• Dayton Society of Natural History (Dayton) received $12,000 to build a new exhibit space at SunWatch Village, a site of the Dayton Natural History Society. 
• Kent State University, Department of Anthropology (Kent) received $2,500 to conduct an archaeological survey of the Berlin Lake Reservoir.  The survey will uncover information to protect an important pre-historic site. 
• Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency (Lancaster) received $15,000 to repair the original windows in the Fairfield County Children's Home, constructed in 1886. It's now a source of affordable housing for the community in Fairfield County.
• Peninsula Valley Historic & Education Foundation (Peninsula) received $14,000 to restore the steeple of Bronson Church, a landmark of the Peninsula's downtown historic district.
• Seneca County Commissioners (Tiffin) received $3,000 to support strategic planning for the Seneca County Museum's advisory board.
• University of Akron, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies (Akron) received $12,500 to conduct a study to analyze Hopewell period artifacts. It will provide a better understanding of the Hopewell people and also supports the nomination of Ohio's Hopewell sites for World Heritage status. 
• Westcott House Foundation (Springfield) received $15,000 to repair the house's sleeping porches and pergola. The project will preserve original structures on a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Westcott House is Wright's only Prairie style house in Ohio.

Ohio History Fund

The Ohio History Fund creates grants to help support local history projects in communities throughout Ohio. It's funded by taxpayers that select "Ohio History Fund" as a donation fund on their state tax returns.

Contact: Emmy Beach, 614.297.2330
[email protected]

SOURCE Ohio History Connection