Elk County approves nine mini-grants to fund America250 community events

Elk County commissioners on Nov. 13 approved funding for nine America250/PA mini-grant projects, voting by voice to fund a slate of local events and displays intended to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The presentations and vote came during a special meeting where organizers gave short pitches for their projects. "This big white box in the middle is going to be a child's artwork," said Kathy, who proposed a life-size vinyl banner program for the county park that would feature student art provided by Fox Elementary and St. Boniface. Kathy said organizers will collect artwork in January, select about 20 pieces in February and display the banners beginning in May, including for the county’s July 3 celebration. ‘‘They’ll be up for the summer and returned to the child when taken down,’’ she added.

Barb Swanson asked the commission to fund the music for a patriotic concert she plans for Sept. 11, 2026, at St. Mary's High School auditorium. "What I'm really asking for is music or money for music," Swanson said, noting copyright and licensing costs. She said "most pieces of music cost between $3.50 and $4 a piece," estimated roughly $1,800 to supply music for a 30-person choir and about $1,000 to print 1,500 programs. Swanson told commissioners proceeds from a door donation would be handled by a sponsor bank and distributed to local charities including the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and a local food bank.

Tina Severance outlined plans for the Wilcox Hometown Festival on May 23, 2026, proposing to buy an American-made 20-by-30-foot flag to be held over the baseball field and later displayed with a banner reading "Happy birthday America from Wilcox, Pennsylvania / Elk County." Severance said the event will include vendors, family games, music and fireworks and that the 2023 festival drew several hundred attendees.

Other funded proposals included a concert choir performance at Redfern and Kersey, a Ridgeway Chaney Saw Rendezvous banner to mark the event's 25th year, a Girl Scouts trivia night at the Johnsburg Public Library on Flag Day (June 14), and an outdoor senior-center celebration planned for June 27 at Bennetts Valley Senior Center. A chamber of commerce proposal would wrap a county billboard and coordinate Main Street marketing to promote the countywide slate of events; applicants said a high-resolution county logo would be provided for production.

A commissioner moved to approve all nine applications; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair announced, "Motion carries," and commissioners said they were excited about the year of events. Commissioners directed staff to refine cooperation agreements to add event dates and the name to which checks should be made payable; those updated agreements were to be mailed to applicants by the next business day.

The meeting closed after a group photo; no public comments were recorded at the end of the session.