Skip navigation

Tag Archives: Uncategorized

New Heritage Grant Funding for County Heritage Organizations

This week the Snohomish County Council took a proactive step in a difficult budget situation. In 2005 the State legislature passed HB 1386 that lead to the adoption of an ordinance to formally implement use of funds collected through this legislation. Passage of Ordinance No. 08-153 by the Snohomish County Council has authorized the creation of a grant program to distribute about $45,000 in money in 2009 collected from $1 in recording fees known as the “Heritage Dollar” and originally made law by the passage in the Washington State Legislature of House Bill 1386 (HB 1386) in 2005. The motion was passed unanimously by the four members of the council present.

We believe that of the 39 counties in Washington State, Snohomish County is just the sixth to pass an ordinance to create a grant program with this money.  The other counties are Clark, Kittitas, King, Pierce and San Juan.  Our thanks go to the council members, the executive’s office and especially to Councilman Brian Sullivan who was instrumental in passing HB 1386 in 2005 and who has continued to support heritage in Snohomish County.

In a January meeting of the League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations, Councilman Sullivan expressed personal concerns knowing how difficult it is for volunteer historical organizations to provide conservation and collections care for museum artifacts, architectural and cultural resources preservation and historical programming. These funds are meant to take advantage of momentum, energy and volunteer efforts and provide encouragement and supplemental matching reimbursement funding for qualified projects. If all goes as planned, the program will be administered by the Snohomish County Historic Preservation Commission and non-profit heritage groups will be able to apply for these funds annually.

For background info

* http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1386&year=2006

* Council link to staff reports: http://snohomish.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=847

* Council PowerPoint showing how the “Heritage Dollar” was allocated: http://snohomish.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=847&meta_id=55874

* Washington Museum Association (WMA) on HB 1386:   http://washingtonstatemuseums.org/whitepaper_HB1386.pdf

* WMA Toolkit:   http://washingtonstatemuseums.org/newsletter.html

Tracy Tallman Vice President, League of Snohomish Heritage Organizations & Snohomish County Historic Preservation Commission
Karen Prasse, President, League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations

League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations; www.snocoheritage.org/blog; info@snocoheritage.org

Welcome to the League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations Blog

This new weblog is part of the League’s mission to communicate and learn from one another, share ideas and cooperate on history and heritage related projects throughout Snohomish County.  Drawing from the idea that the whole is better than the sum of its parts, it is hoped that we will find ways to share resources and ideas to preserve our historic architecture, protect cultural resources,  improve our museums collections, provide better heritage programs and exhibits.  We hope to share and compete in a healthy innovative way for new and old funding sources to promote a better understanding of county heritage.

Our most recent activity included the Feb 28th Disaster Preparedness Workshop with Tracy Tallman of the Historic Preservation Commission/Snohomish County Museum and Melinda Van Wingen of the Everett Public Library Northwest Room.

Our next workshop will be the  Collections Care Workshop
on Friday March 6th, 2009, 9 am – 3 pm.
Waltz Building, Snohomish.
Instructor is Lynette Miller, Head of Collections, Washington State History Research Center.