Local organizations can apply for funding that supports projects aimed at preserving Richland County’s natural resources and historic places.

Richland County Conservation Commission is now accepting applications for its Historic Preservation and Community Conservation grants. Nonprofit and neighborhood groups, governmental agencies, institutions and commercial entities may apply for the grants, both of which require a 20 percent match. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2017.

Historic Preservation Grants are available in amounts up to $50,000 for the preservation or restoration of historic buildings and cemeteries or for educational and research projects that promote Richland County history. Projects funded by Historic Preservation Grants in previous years include:

·         Restoration of the observation deck at the Curtiss-Wright Hangar

·         Reconstruction of two cupolas at Ebenezer Lutheran Chapel

·         A National Historic District nomination for the Melrose Heights/Oak Lawn neighborhoods

·         Interior restoration of a B-25 bomber

·         Restoration of the Olympia-Granby Museum

Community Conservation Grants are available in amounts up to $20,000 for projects such as trail building, water quality improvement or green infrastructure, as well as environmental education programs. Projects recently funded by Community Conservation Grants include:

·         Establishment of a bee course at Camp Discovery

·         A mountain bike trail redesign and bridge replacement at Harbison State Forest

·         Interpretive signs and a binocular viewer for the endangered rocky shoals spider lily

·         Improvements at Rosewood Orchard

Grant criteria and applications are available online at www.richlandlegacy.com. For more information about Richland County’s historic and conservation grant opportunities, contact Nancy Stone-Collum at stonecollumn@rcgov.us  or 803-576-2083.