The State Historical Fund, a program of the Colorado Historical Society, has awarded two grants to Prowers County projects totalling more than $54,000.
The city of Lamar was awarded $24,723 to complete a historic building survey of the downtown shopping district. The Hartman gym restoration project received $29,700 to repair masonry at the depression era constructed facility.
The two projects are part of 63 grants for historic preservation totaling $6,370,939 for the first competitive grant round of fiscal year 2010. These new grants join the 397 already active grant projects that total nearly $47 million in direct investment in the State of Colorado. The city of Lamar was not required to match any funds for the grant.
Lamar City Administrator Ron Stock stated in an email regarding the grant that it would assist in the city’s ultimate goal of establishing a historic overlay zone. “What we are hoping to do is to document when buildings were constructed, how they have been used over the years (ie which businesses have occupied the building and the dates), and how the buildings have changed over time.”
Stock noted that a historic overlay would allow for greater flexibility for downtown property owners. “Our historic overlay zone district is intended to allow the property owners to choose between the current building code and a new building code for existing buildings.  Where the current building code would require the property owner to bring the entire building to code if minor modifications were done, such as sprinkling or ADA compliance, the new existing-buildings-code would not require this.  Thus, the new building code would make it easier for property owners to make improvements without having significant costs for other (probably undesirable) improvements,” stated Stock.
Steve Turner, State Historical Fund Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer said the grants provide an economic boost to the recipient communities. “Research shows that each $1 in grant funds results in an economic return of $6. So the total economic impact of this investment is more than $275 million going into communities across the state,” said Turner.
Communities that save one locally significant building can impact economic growth by creating jobs and promoting heritage tourism in their region. The impact of Colorado communities’ commitment to preservation is evident in the volunteer time and contributed funds: more than $100 million in matching dollars was raised to supplement grant funds since 1993, when the first State Historical Fund grants were awarded.
“This round of grants continues to highlight that people across Colorado understand the value of historic preservation,” Turner said. “They recognize that protecting the unique historic and cultural resources of Colorado strengthens their communities. We at the State Historical Fund are honored to assist these communities that also donate their time and money to ensure these irreplaceable resources stand as a tribute to Colorado’s heritage, now and for generations to come.”
The State Historical Fund, a program of the Colorado Historical Society, awards grants to public and non-profit organizations to preserve Colorado’s architectural and archaeological treasures for public benefit. The State Historical Fund receives funds for grants through a portion of tax revenues from limited-stakes gaming in the towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. State Historical Fund grants have helped preserve hundreds of historic schools, town halls, agricultural sites and other important resources in all 64 Colorado counties since 1993. Grants disbursed since this time have totalled more than $224 million.