County leaders seek federal grant, National Register eligibility to preserve courthouse
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Summary
County representatives said they met with the U.S. Department of the Interior and are pursuing a preliminary federal grant to get the courthouse listed on the National Historic Register; local officials said listing would unlock additional funding and that a letter of support was secured.
Speaker 2 said county officials met with the U.S. Department of the Interior and are applying for a federal grant aimed at preserving the courthouse. "We met with the Department of Interior," Speaker 2 said, and described the grant as a first step to make the building eligible for listing on the National Historic Register.
The officials said the initial grant is small but would allow the county to complete the eligibility process for the National Historic Register, which Speaker 2 said would open more funding opportunities. "Once we get that building on and designated as that national in HR, then we'll be eligible for a lot more funding," Speaker 2 said.
Speaker 2 also said they met with "Rick Scott's group," which has agreed to provide a letter of support and help the county pursue the grant. County representatives told attendees there is a clear end use planned for the building and an intent to preserve its historical elements.
Community representatives welcomed the plan. Speaker 3 told the meeting the courthouse is a "nice looking building" that could be usable but will require significant investment. Attendees noted local historical materials and exhibits housed in the facility and said preservation aligns with local heritage priorities.
Next steps described at the meeting include completing the grant application, securing the formal National Register designation, and pursuing larger funding sources once eligibility is achieved. No formal vote on the grant application was recorded in the transcript; Speaker 2 presented the plan as ongoing work.
