Freeman announces more than $223K in state grants awarded to museums and cultural organizations

HARRISBURG, Sept. 15 – State Rep. Robert Freeman announced today that $223,399 has been awarded to his district through the COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program for cultural organizations and museums to offset lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted our cultural organizations and museums,” Freeman said. “These grant dollars will aid in facilitating recovery efforts and operation efforts so that they can continue to be viable assets to our communities.”

The grant awards are as follows:

  • Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, $42,300.
  • Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, $25,000.
  • State Theatre Center for the Arts, Inc, $156,099.

According to Freeman, funds may be used to offset lost revenue for eligible cultural organizations and museums that were subject to closure by the proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the governor on March 6 and any renewal of the state of disaster emergency, and that experienced a loss of revenue related to the closure.

Funds cannot be used to offset revenue, which has already been offset from other sources, including philanthropic and federal, state and local government sources.

More information about the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which awarded the funding, can be found on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.