11 Tacoma, Pierce County groups could receive $54K for historic preservation projects

Eleven local organizations with stakes in historic preservation are slated to receive nearly $54,000 in grant funding to help pay for a variety of historic projects and programming.

The funding is part of the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission’s preservation grant program, which aims to fund preservation efforts countywide by encouraging non-profit organizations, public agencies, and owners of properties listed on local historic registers to request grants of up to $5,000 for historic preservation or history-related project proposals. Matching funds must be provided by the applicants.

Funding for the grant program is provided by state legislation enacted in 2005 that directs $1 of a $5 filing fee toward historic preservation and historical programming. The commission identified $60,000 in filing fees directed to Pierce County to fund this year’s grant program.

For this round of grant funding, applications were accepted through July 2. The commission held public meetings on July 10 and Aug. 14 to evaluate fourteen grant applications in detail and unanimously recommended funding the following 11 grant proposals:

Preservation Project — Bonney Lake Historical Society $5,000;
Pantages Theater Elevator Safety & Access Improvements — Broadway Center for the Performing Arts $5,000;
Meeker Mansion Exterior Window Sill Replacement — Ezra Meeker Society $5,000;
Granary Stabilization-Living History Museum — Fort Nisqually Foundation $5,000;
Maritime Interactive Program — Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society $5,000;
Wagner House Roof Maintenance — Friends of Lakewood $3,770;
Electrical Service Replacement-Historic Dash Point School — Northpoint Co-operative Pre-school $5,000;
Tacoma Historic Collection Preservation — Tacoma Historical Society $4,670.68
Historic Architectural Plans & Drawings Preservation Supplies — Tacoma Public Library $5,000;
Steilacoom Historic District Digitized Walking Tour — Town of Steilacoom $5,000;
Morse Wildlife Preserve Barn Roof Repair — Forterra NW $5,000.

In total, $53,440.68 is slated to be awarded to the organizations. Pierce County Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to award the funds during its meeting on Tues., Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. at the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 1045, in Tacoma.