Columbus, OH (April 16, 2025)— America 250-Ohio, the official state commission responsible for spearheading Ohio’s celebrations and commemorations around America’s semiquincentennial in 2026, announced today that it awarded grants of up to $5,000 each to 57 organizations across the state of Ohio, for a total of $278,834. These grants are dedicated to funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s important contribution to American history. The $5,000 grant is meant to help awardees plan, organize and implement a program or event that aligns with America 250-Ohio initiatives in two broad categories: Storytelling and Education (Next Generation Citizens).

In order to qualify for the grants, applicants needed to either be designated an official “America 250-Ohio Community,” and/or have a letter of support from that local government entity. These community-focused grants are aimed at funding local experiences that supplement the programs that America 250-Ohio is producing statewide, and that further the reach of America 250-Ohio-related educational programming statewide.

This is the third and final round of grants awarded by America 250-Ohio since its inception. The first funding cycle, announced in January 2024, awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to 23 communities and organizations for projects with significant statewide or regional impacts, as well as smaller, local activations. The second funding cycle, announced in June 2024, awarded $600,000 to 61 recipients. Grants for the first two rounds funded community-based projects and initiatives ranging from exhibitions to public events to digital and documentary media projects. All three rounds of grants have been administered, in part, by Ohio Humanities.

Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-Ohio

“We wanted to use this third grant cycle to recognize and support the work of America 250-Ohio communities across the state. From big cities to small towns, Ohioans are making plans for the semiquincentennial in 2026, and this new round of grants will help provide them with opportunities to learn and to celebrate our state and our nation.”

In Northwest Ohio, here are a few of the 15 grant recipients in the region:

Organization: Auglaize County Historical Society
Project Title: Barn Again! in Auglaize County  
Location: Wapakoneta, Ohio
Grant Award: $4,800

Barn Again! in Auglaize County will document and celebrate the barns and historic outbuildings of this western Ohio county, inviting and involving as broad a cross-section of residents as possible in this celebration of faring and rural life, so a key a component of our nation and our state’s history. Its diverse activities will include inventory of historic barn images, speaker series, photography competition, traveling exhibit, oral history collection, driving tour, and development of a website and Facebook page.

Organization: Jackson Center Local Schools PTO
Project Title: JC PTO Family Night at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum  
Location: Jackson Center, Ohio
Grant Award: $3,296

A core focus of the JC PTO is building strong families. In alignment with the Education Activations: History Pass. This project will allow students and their families the opportunity to attend the Armstrong Air & Space Museum at no cost to them and provide access to a historical museum they may not otherwise have. Students will be able to learn about the legend Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon and an Ohio native. Through collaboration with the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, we will be able to provide their package of an All Inclusive Field Trip Experience for up to 100 students and their families. On average we have 100 students plus their families in attendance at our events. As listed on their website, the museum provides STEM experiences for all grades and ages, which aligns with our PTO goals. We serve all of Jackson Center Local Schools Community Preschool – 12th grade and families.

Organization: City of Lima
Project Title: Lima’s Local History Hunt  
Location: Lima, Ohio
Grant Award: $5,000

The history of Lima/Allen County is an important strand in the tapestry of our nation’s 250-year history, but much of our local story remains untold. Through community collaboration, we want to give voice and spotlight to the significance of our local history through an engaging and interactive Local History Hunt. The City of Lima, Chamber of Commerce, Allen County Commissioners, Rhodes State College, Downtown Lima, Inc., Veteran’s Memorial Civic Center, Artspace/Lima, Allen County Museum, Johnny Appleseed Parks, and Visit Greater Lima are working in partnership. The goal of the project is to highlight points of local pride and historical significance through the creation of 5 different trails featuring approximately 10 stops along each trail. Each trailhead will start at a local museum or cultural center and then lead visitors to other places of historical significance, educating visitors along the way through engaging signage and an informational website.

This event takes place at the site of Independence Dam State Park, Defiance, OH. The two-day event involves live reenactors from native America, pioneer days, Johnny Appleseed, early settlers to the area and the early militia. All reenactors will be dressed in native/period costumes, set up camp in authentic tents and cook on open fires. Early settlers will present the art of weaving, candle making, chair caning and cooking on open fires.

A full list of grant recipients can be found at america250-ohio.org/2025/04/spring-2025-grants/.  

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About America 250-Ohio:

In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.