Application are now being accepted for Preserving Missoula County’s History Grants
Deadline: June 15, 2024
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is pleased to announce that the Preserving Missoula County History Grant program is now open. This program is open to all Missoula County non-profit organizations involved in historic preservation and interpretation projects in Missoula County. Missoula voters made funding these grants possible when they approved the 2-mill levy for the Historical Museum in 2002.
A total amount of $10,000 is available for one-time projects with a demonstrable long-term impact on local history; individual projects are limited to a maximum grant of $5,000. Capital Improvement funds are available for projects such as structural improvement, structure and site restoration, physical access (ADA), interpretive facilities and collections, and adaptation to meet health and safety requirements. Interpretation funds are available for contributions to local history in the areas of site investigation and interpretation, long-term exhibits, and publications. The primary emphasis must be on the demonstrable long-term impact of the project on the preservation, interpretation, dissemination and/or enhancement of local history. The grants may not be used for routine maintenance, programs, publicity, general operations, personnel, or personal research, and they must be related to the mission of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula – the preservation and interpretation of: Missoula County history, the military history of Fort Missoula, and the history of the timber industry in western Montana, and the detention of 2200 Italian and Japanese foreign nationals at Fort Missoula during WWII.
For details and applications contact Matt Lautzenheiser, Executive Director, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, Missoula, MT, 59804; at 406.258.3471; or by email.
Application deadline JUNE 15, 2024 (earlier submission is recommended).
CONTACT: Matt Lautzenheiser, 406.258.3471
Fax: 406.543.6277
Preserving Missoula County’s History Grant Application
INTRODUCTION
The Preserving Missoula County’s History Grant is made possible because of the 2-mill levy approved by Missoula County voters on June 4, 2002, for the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. The applicant organization must be non-profit, within Missoula County, and its mission must coincide with the mission of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula:
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is dedicated to keeping Missoula County’s history alive by increasing the knowledge and understanding of the history of the county and city of Missoula, the history of Fort Missoula and the military presence in the area, and the history of forest management and the wood products industry in western Montana. Through an aggressive program of collections, exhibits, educational opportunities and special events, the Museum seeks to stimulate creative thought and enhance the self-esteem of residents of and visitors to Missoula, providing a sense of place, time and space for all.
Money from this fund that is not awarded because of lack of applicants or lack of acceptable projects becomes available to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
GRANT AMOUNTS AVAILABLE
The total amount of funds available in Fiscal Year 2025 for Preserving Missoula County’s History Grants is $10,000, with no one grant exceeding $5,000. Grants will be awarded by the Missoula Board of Trustees for the Historical Museum.
PRIORITIES
Proposed projects that substantially comply with the following will have the highest priority:
- Projects that involve extensive community or neighborhood participation and support;
- Projects that increase the number of people benefiting from the exposure to local history;
- Projects that preserve or interpret significant historical resources in the rural areas of Missoula County;
- Projects where applicants are supported by additional funding from other agencies or organizations;
- Projects that increase disabled access;
- Projects that reduce or eliminate liability;
- Projects that reduce the overall maintenance of a facility or historical site.
CONDITIONS FOR USE AND PAYMENT OF HISTORY GRANT FUNDS
- The Recipient shall receive all grant funds from the Board of Trustees of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula after the Board announces its decision at its July 2024 meeting.
- The Trustees reserve the right to make on-site visits and/or require the Recipient to provide additional documentation.
- It is the Recipient’s sole responsibility to pay its vendors.
- The Recipient will make sure that all applicable codes, regulations, and laws, including ADA compliance, are followed.
- The Recipient will make sure that contractors and other service providers who operate equipment or perform work must provide a copy of their insurance certificate and all applicable licenses, and may be required to obtain regulatory permits before commencing work. Evidence of workers’ compensation insurance or proof of exemption is also required. Recipients may not solicit the services, paid or donated, of vendors who are unable to meet these requirements.
- The Trustees reserve the right to audit the Recipient’s use of match funds. The Recipient may appeal any adverse Trustee ruling to the Missoula County Commissioners.
- After two years any unexpended award money shall be returned to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
- The Recipient will credit the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula in all publicity and in a proper manner at the site.
- At the conclusion of the project the Recipient will notify the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and an inspection of the completed project may be scheduled.
- A progress report every six months is to be completed with the following information. At the conclusion of the project the Recipient will complete a final report that will also include:
- complete, detailed budget of all expenses, cash and in-kind
- receipts of all cash purchases
- photographs of completed project
- copies of any press announcements or publicity
GRADING
20% – completeness of application
30% – track record of demonstrated ability to complete a product/project on time and
within budget
50% – the long-term benefit of the product/project to the community
FUTURE GRANTS
An organization which receives a Preserving Missoula County’s History grant will not be eligible for another grant for one year after the completion of the project.
AWARDS SCHEDULE
Grants will be reviewed and prioritized by an advisory committee to the Board of Trustees for the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. The Trustees reserve the right to grant funds less than the amount requested if the competition for funding warrants them to do so. Grants will be awarded at their July meeting, on the second Monday. Representatives from the organizations may be requested to attend.
Applications must be received by the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula no later than June 15, 2024.