State officials are handing out 48 large checks in ceremonies across Iowa today. The checks aren’t real — they’re symbolic — representing 48 grants from the Historic Resource Development Program. Roger Munns of the State Historical Society of Iowa says the grants are for historical preservation.There are four categories; restoring historic properties, help for local museums, help with documentary programs and a new category to help with country school programs.The grants range in size from around two-thousand dollars to the largest of 20-thousand dollars. They’re awarding a total of $386,000, which Munns says will leverage a total of nearly one million dollars. Munns says they scheduled all 48 ceremonies to award grants today to try and draw attention to the program. Some of the other entities receiving grants: Adams County Historic Preservation Network, Bremer County Historical Society, Mason City, Clayton County Conservation Board, Friends of Clinton Public Library, Dyersville Area Historical Society, Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium in Amana, Amana Heritage Society, Jackson County Conservation Board, Old Brick Episcopal Church in Iowa City, University of Iowa, Davenport Public Library, Ames Heritage Association, Winnebago Historical Society, Rural Woodbury County Historical Society.
