From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin County is among 19 counties across Pennsylvania receiving funding through the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program, which awarded more than $2.2 million to support preservation projects as part of the Commonwealth’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

The Mifflin County Board of Commissioners was awarded $92,000 through the highly competitive grant program, which selected 38 projects from 115 applications statewide. All grants require a 50% local match.

PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery said the funding will help preserve historic resources while supporting community revitalization efforts across the state.

“Our historic places are more than brick and mortar; they are the anchors of our communities and the spaces where Pennsylvania’s stories come alive,” Lowery said. “By investing in these sites, we aren’t just preserving physical structures; we are safeguarding our collective cultural memory for future generations.”

The grants support projects that identify, preserve and promote historic and archaeological resources, as well as municipal planning initiatives related to historic preservation. Funding may also be used for construction and rehabilitation work at sites listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Several neighboring counties also received awards, including the Blair County Historical Society, which received $99,250, and the Capitol Theatre Center Foundation in Franklin County, which was awarded $30,000. In Cumberland County, South Middleton Township received $100,000, while the Appalachian Trail Museum was awarded $11,000.

Statewide, grant awards ranged from $5,000 to $25,000 for planning projects and from $5,000 to $100,000 for construction projects.

The grants are funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, which receives revenue from a portion of Pennsylvania’s realty transfer tax.

PHMC officials said this year’s funding cycle places special emphasis on projects that highlight Pennsylvania’s role in the nation’s history as the state prepares for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.