| December 1, 2005
OLYMPIA…Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient,
is thrilled that the Washington State Department of Archaeology and
Historic Preservation (DAHP) has announced that Stevens County will receive
$123,303 to assist in the rehabilitation of its historic county courthouse
in Colville.
“These rehab funds are invaluable to this community,”
Morton said. “This process is very competitive. Stevens County should be
very proud of this accomplishment.”
The funds will be received through the Historic County
Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program, which originated with a survey of
Washington’s 28 historic county courthouses conducted in 2003. This survey
identified a statewide need topping $43 million in historic rehabilitation
to the structures studied. In recognition of this needed work, the
Legislature appropriated $5 million from the 2005-07 state capital
construction and maintenance budget for the creation of a program to provide
funding for historic courthouse rehabilitation.
DAHP, in conjunction with the Washington Trust for
Historic Preservation, developed the program that provides matching funds to
counties engaged in historic courthouse preservation. Several criteria were
used to determine a county’s eligibility to participate in the program,
including the ability to raise the required matching funds locally,
readiness to proceed with the scope of work outlined in the application, and
the degree to which the project retains and highlights the historic
character-defining features of the courthouse.
On Monday, Nov. 21, the grant program’s steering committee
met in Olympia to evaluate the applications submitted. The committee awarded
more than $4.07 million to eight counties statewide.
“Together with the funds raised locally, this money will
foster economic development in numerous communities while working to
preserve public buildings vital to the architectural and cultural heritage
of Washington,” Morton added.
Grant funds awarded to Stevens County will be used for
repairs made to the roof of the historic courthouse. Official award letters
to counties will be distributed tomorrow, Dec. 2.
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For more information contact Tami Davis
(360) 786-7519 or
davis.tami@leg.wa.gov
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