Brewer and Smola Announce $250,000 for OSV
Grant to Fund Infrastructure Upgrades
(Boston) – Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) and Representative Todd M. Smola (R-Palmer) announced that Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) has received a total grant in the amount of $250,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) to preserve and care for the historic buildings on the sight of the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast.
The announcement marks a $125,000 increase from the original grant amount awarded to Old Sturbridge village in November 2011, when Governor Deval Patrick announced $7.4 million in grants from CFF to support building projects for nonprofit arts, heritage, and science organizations across the Commonwealth.
“A visit to Old Sturbridge Village has become a staple for students across Massachusetts and throughout New England,” said Brewer. “The living museum provides a truly unique experience for visitors and is a driving force for area tourism. This funding will be integral to ensuring future generations will be able to take a trip back to the 1800’s through a visit to OSV.”
“Old Sturbridge Village is one of the crown jewels of the tourism industry in Massachusetts,” said Smola. “Not many places can provide an authentic trip back in time the way that the village does. This living history museum is a model teaching tool and economic engine for the entire region. This grant money will go a long way toward the protection and preservation of this outstanding facility.”
OSV, located in Brewer’s district, will need to raise the matching $250,000 from other philanthropic sources for the $500,000 project. The successful CFF award will allow OSV to begin work on its project, “Investing in the Future: The Infrastructure Improvement Project at Old Sturbridge Village”. The funding will be used to address deferred maintenance needs among various historic and non-historic buildings and the scope of work includes roof replacement, carpentry repairs, painting of building exteriors and interiors, and HVAC upgrades.
“At Old Sturbridge Village, we care for and maintain 59 antique homes and buildings – which is quite costly - so we are deeply grateful for this funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund,” said Jim Donahue, president and CEO of Old Sturbridge Village. “Our vintage structures, which include three water-powered mills, two covered bridges, and a working farm, come from all six New England states, and have been carefully restored. This CFF grant will help protect the future of these buildings for generations to come.”
Additionally, OSV serves as an economic engine for the Central MA region, employing 100 full time year-round employees and another 100 part time seasonal employees. More than 65,000 school children visit the Village each year on field trips.
Organizations that received past CFF grants are spending more than $800 million on their building projects, and providing more than 11,000 building jobs, including architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers. They also plan to add more than 1,150 new permanent jobs after their capital projects are complete.
CFF grants have also helped restore many of our nation’s most historic landmarks and treasures, which in turn have brought more cultural tourists to Massachusetts. In 2008 and 2009, more than 14 million people visited organizations receiving these grants; nearly one third came from out-of-state.
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Posted: Wed, Mar 7, 2012
Updated Wed, Mar 7, 2012