February 25, 2017
During her quarterly report to the County Commissioners, Linda Rippy, Executive Director of the County Museum gave an update on grant opportunities.
The Museum was just awarded a grant from Tourism to have an ad in the Marshall County Visitor’s Guide.
The museum has applied for a grant through the Lilly Foundation for archival boxes and storage units. Rippy said they are running out of room for storage. The grant, up to $5,000 would provide additional shelving in the basement area to better utilize the space.
Last week the Museum received notification from the Indiana Historical Society of eligibility to apply for a second phase grant through the Lilly Foundation for the High School Sports Room. Rippy said the grant opportunity is up to a $50,000 grant award.
In 2016 they were awarded a $30,000 grant for the first phase of the new Sports Room on the second floor of the museum. This project brought a total renovation including a new maple gym style floor, fresh paint and freshened woodwork, a repaired and repainted ceiling and new display walls. The project incorporated vintage lighting, bleacher seating, repurposed cage lockers and salt-glazed wall tile, reminiscent of so many county school gyms.
This additional grant will allow them to continue with reworking the room and bring in technology into the space with a touch-screen that will have huge volumes of information. Visitors will be able to sit in the bleachers and watch video clips, wander into the Fan Zone and view unique and interesting collections.
This phase II grant will require a 15% match if the county is successful.