Chester County Historical Society receives a $750,000

Posted by Press Release on January 1, 2014

The Chester County Historical Society will receive $750,000 from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a commonwealth grant program for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects. Gov. Tom Corbett approved the project.

The grant funds will be used to address the organization's most critical capital needs in the History Center, the former YMCA building which the Historical Society renovated in the early 1990s, and in Horticultural Hall. These needs include new roofing, HVAC upgrades, repairs to the front terrace, and other interior and exterior improvements. “The original renovations to CCHS's History Center are nearly 20 years old and, as one would expect, the building now requires significant maintenance and upgrades. This grant will allow us to move forward with our broad programmatic plans and will ensure that we can play a growing role in our region’s educational and economic life,” said Rob Lukens, CCHS President. “Stabilizing our building is integral to the viability of the Chester County Historical Society’s overall operations, including its facility rental program and role as a cultural tourism attraction.”

CCHS was able to secure this level of commitment through the support and leadership of state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi and Corbett. Additional support was received from state Rep. Dan Truitt, state Sen. Andy Dinniman and a number of local community leaders. “This was really a team effort. We are very appreciative of the political support that we received in this application from our elected officials and also other community leaders,” explained CCHS Board Chair George C. Zumbano. CCHS received direction from the Chester County Industrial Development Authority who submitted the application on CCHS's behalf. CCHS Trustees and staff have been instrumental in advocating for this and other funding opportunities, and the facilities committee of the organization has helped provide technical information to frame the building's needs.

Pileggi said, “The Chester County Historical Society does tremendous work in preserving and showing the county’s rich history. This investment will help ensure that the many priceless artifacts, documents and photos housed by the Historical Society will remain available for generations to come. I strongly supported this application and am pleased that the Governor chose to release these funds.”

The Chester County Historical Society inspires, informs, and builds community identity by preserving and sharing the remarkable story of Chester County and its people. CCHS fulfills this mission through: acting as steward of an unparalleled collection of artifacts, manuscripts, photographs and volumes that documents over 300 years of County heritage; offering innovative educational programs and exhibitions that draw on the collections to bring history to life, and helping audiences explore their own histories through Historical Society resources and staff expertise. To learn more about CCHS visit www.ChesterCoHistorical.org