Oil City, PA— The Oil Region Alliance is offering mini-grants of up to $5,000 to non-profits for heritage projects in the Oil Region National Heritage Area.
The Oil Region National Heritage Area (ORNHA) 2023 Heritage Mini-Grant Program is meant to assist heritage-related sites and organizations, as well as municipalities and counties, to develop new programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives that are consistent with the Interpretation goals in the 2021 Oil Region National Heritage Area Strategic Plan report.
“I hope that the ORNHA Heritage Mini-Grant Program will help numerous projects and programs come to fruition,” said Jenn Burden, ORA Heritage Program Manager. “This region is full of potential opportunities to celebrate our unique heritage and history.”
Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations currently registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations, municipalities, and counties are eligible to apply. Projects must have a significant connection to the heritage of the ORNHA, which is all of Venango County and Titusville, Hydetown Borough, and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
• Educational and/or media pieces that promote the history and/or history of the ORNHA
• New or revised educational brochures
• Videos highlighting the region’s history
• Development of curriculum units for grades K-12
• Creation of new wayside materials (interpretive panels, historical markers, etc.)
• Enhancement, repair, or creation of historical exhibits
• Materials to properly preserve/store historic artifacts for future use
• Arrangement of public historical events (speakers, demonstrations, workshops, tours, etc.)
Eligible entities may apply for more than one project as part of this grant application as long as the total cost for the projects does not exceed $25,000 and the total grant request does not exceed $5,000. Entities should list multiple projects in priority order in their application. ORA and the review committee may award funding to all or some projects in the applications based upon completeness of applications and available funding.
The grants are reimbursable, meaning awardees are responsible for payments up front and must submit receipts to be reimbursed. ORA will make payments within 30 days of receipt of required proof of payments.
The full application with more information is available at OilRegion.org/the-alliance/rfps/
Applications are due by February 17, 2023.
Award announcements will be made Wednesday, March 1.
Contact Burden at jburden@oilregion.org or 814.677.3152 with questions.