The Marshall County Bicentennial Committee meeting was held on Monday at the Marshall County Museum.
Louise Mason from the Marshall County Community Foundation announced an out-of-cycle round of grants just for projects to celebrate the state’s bicentennial. The foundation has allocated $10,000 for special programming and projects in keeping with the focus and theme of Indiana’s Bicentennial. Qualifying programming and project that promote education, tourism, awareness and history of Marshall County, and projects focused just on the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial.
Not-for-profits, organizations and groups interested special programming or projects may apply for up to $2,000. This pro-active grant has a simple application which is available on their website: marshallcountycf.org. January 12, 2015 is the deadline at noon to apply.
Mason noted, “Applying for this special grant round will not affect your status in the regular grant application process in February and September.”
Rene’ Stanley, Director of Community Resources for the Indiana Bicentennial Commission spoke to the group and discussed the grass roots celebrations across the state. She talked about the torch relay in the fall of 2016 which will pass through every county in the State of Indiana. An engineering university will be selected to design the torch which will include GPS capabilities and a Go Pro camera.
The torch will be lit in Corydon, the site of Indiana’s first state capitol. It will travel uniquely through each Hoosier County by using a variety of options including a combine, canoe, bi-plane, speedboat, strapped to a horse, underwater in a stone quarry, down Raceway Park at 200 miles per hour and around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is expected to take six weeks to traverse 2,400 across the state.
Each county will determine the selection process for torch bearers which will be from all age groups. They will also determine how the torch will move across their county.
The state is working on a Bicentennial coffee table book, commemorative coin which should be available in the fall of 2015 and the Indiana Arts Commission will be hosting a statewide arts contest.
