HARRISBURG – The Franklin County Historical Society and Renfrew Museum and Park are two recipients of grant funding from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
The PHMC has awarded almost $2 million in grants to 155 eligible museums and official county historical societies from 58 Pennsylvania counties.
Franklin County Historical Society will receive $4,000 and Renfrew Museum and Park will also receive $4,000.
The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museum community by supporting the general operations of eligible museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs.
An eligible museum must have an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person (or approved equivalent).
Award amounts are determined using an equation based on a percentage of the eligible museum’s previous year’s operating budget. The maximum any museum could receive is $40,000. All official county historical societies receive a $4,000 minimum grant.
Other Central Pennsylvania awardees include the Adams County Historical Society ($4,000), The Gettysburg Foundation ($12,503), Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation ($8,501), Bedford County Historical Society ($4,000), Old Bedford Village ($4,000) and Cumberland County Historical Society ($9,047) and the Fulton County Historical Society ($4,000).
“PHMC is delighted to once again award these general operating support grants to museums and historical societies, especially as museums face extreme financial challenges related to the pandemic,” said PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery. “These grants make a difference in communities all across the commonwealth, connecting Pennsylvanians with their history, serving as economic drivers, and contributing to the quality of life.”
