Silos & Smokestacks' Grants Available to Help Preserve America's Agricultural Story

Northeast Iowa - Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is pleased to announce they are now accepting General Grant applications. Thanks to continued federal funding, the Heritage Area will again be able to offer this important program for preserving and sharing America's agricultural stories. Since the program began in 2001, SSNHA has funded over $1.6 million to projects dedicated to preserving and sharing America's agricultural story. SSNHA is excited to discover new projects organizations are working on to help in the continued storytelling of the key role agriculture has had in the nation (past and present). Through partnering with organizations on a grassroots level, the Heritage Area is able to help preserve stories that might otherwise be left untold. Please note the usual April deadline has been extended to August 15, 2013. 

General Grants help fund agricultural related interpretive projects in the Heritage Area including: exhibit development, educational programs, interpretive signage, marketing and event programming. Proposed projects must demonstrate how they help preserve and interpret America's agricultural and agri-industrial stories, along with its significance to the nation and the world. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local/regional governments or federally recognized Indian tribes with projects located in the Heritage Area. Applicants are not limited to designated SSNHA Partner Sites or organizations located within the Heritage Area. Projects funded through SSNHA Grant Programs must provide a 1-1 non-federal match to the grant award. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $10,000. 

"We are pleased to be able to offer the General Grants Program this year thanks to support from Heritage Area partners, communities and our congressional leaders," noted Don Short, SSNHA President. "To date, the grant program has helped serve as a catalyst for hundreds of projects throughout the Heritage Area." 

Grant applications are available under the Grant Opportunities section atwww.silosandsmokestacks.org/partnerand postmark deadline is August 15, 2013. For more information or questions, contact Candy Streed, Program & Partnership Director, at 319-234-4567 orcstreed@silosandsmokestacks.org.