Wayne County Historical Society receives $5k grant
The Wayne County Historical Society was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the American 250-Ohio Commission for its project: The History of the United States According to Wayne County, Ohio. The project is one of 57 community-based initiatives chosen as part of the third and final round of grants.
The society’s project is a storytelling and education program designed to bring parents and children together in different settings to learn about how Wayne County is part of the country’s 250th celebration, even though Wayne County was not founded until 1808. Programs will specifically highlight the county’s role in the Revolutionary War and thereafter. The goal is to touch all of Wayne County’s 120,000 residents more than once during 2026 with the American 250-Ohio message.
The grants, totaling $278,834 across the state, are dedicated to funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s contribution to American history. The community-focused grants aim to help communities plan, organize and implement programs and events that align with America 250-Ohio goals in the categories of storytelling and education.
In 2026 the country will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state is encouraged to find ways to celebrate its contributions. The America 250-Ohio Commission was created by the Ohio Legislature and launched in 2022 in order to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present and future.
The grants are administered by Ohio Humanities, a nonprofit that hosts programs and awards grants that support storytellers. The statewide organization supports a variety of programs, from those initiated by museums to projects created by journalists and documentary filmmakers.
“On behalf of the America 250-Ohio Commission, we congratulate the Wayne County Historical Society on this grant award for their rich contributions to Ohio’s history and significance in our nation,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “This new round of grants will help Wayne County to discover new and exciting ways to celebrate our state’s role within the founding of our country.”
Find more about these programs at www.America250-Ohio.org and www.OhioHumanities.org.