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Board endorses Westmoreland County Museum’s application for Virginia 250 grant
Summary
The Westmoreland County Board voted unanimously to support a resolution allowing the county museum and courthouse properties to pursue Virginia 250 grant funding for preservation and ADA improvements. Museum director Rosemary Mahan requested county authorization so the nonprofit can apply for the state program.
The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution supporting applications to the Virginia 250 grant program for preservation work at the county museum and courthouse.
Rosemary Mahan, executive director of the Westmoreland County Museum, told the board the statewide Virginia 250 program has $20 million available for historic facilities tied to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. She said Westmoreland County — birthplace of Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, George Washington (as regional history), James Madison and James Monroe — is well suited to compete for the funding and asked the board to authorize the museum’s pre-application by the August 30 deadline.
The resolution asks the board to support grant requests to rehabilitate perimeter walls, walkways, steps and infrastructure; improve ADA accessibility; install interpretive signage and fabricating museum exhibits; and otherwise stabilize and protect the museum building at 43 Court Street and the historic courthouse at 15803 Kings Highway in Montrose. Mahan said the museum is operated by Westmoreland County Museum and Library, Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and that county ownership or owner approval is required to apply.
Board members praised the museum staff’s work and expressed concern about deferred maintenance that could risk the county’s historical assets. A motion to approve the resolution carried on a unanimous voice vote (Mister McCormick, Mister Henson, Mister Ingram and the chair recorded as voting aye). Mahan said she will proceed with the pre-application and work with county staff as needed.
What’s next: The museum director will submit the pre-application by the August 30 deadline and return to the board for any required further approvals or clarifications needed by the grant application process.
