Several Berks County museums and historical organizations are among the recipients of nearly $4 million in state funding awarded through the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s Cultural and Historical Support Grant program.
The grants were distributed to 177 eligible museums and official county historical societies across 59 counties statewide. The program is designed to support general operations for institutions that are not funded through other state agency programs, helping to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museum and historical community.
In Berks County, the following organizations received grants: Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles — $30,000, Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust — $40,000, Foundation for the Reading Public Museum — $40,000, General Carl Spaatz Regional USAAC Museum — $6,200, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary — $40,000, Historical Society of Berks County (doing business as Berks History Center) — $25,000.
According to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, grant amounts are determined by a formula based on a percentage of an organization’s annual operating budget. Awards range from a minimum of $4,000 to a maximum of $50,000.
To qualify for the program, museums must have an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000, excluding capital and in-kind services, and employ at least one full-time professional staff member or an approved equivalent.
Statewide, the funding supports a wide range of institutions, including history centers, science museums, cultural sites, and county historical societies. Officials say the grants help ensure these organizations can continue preserving local history, providing educational programming, and serving their communities.
The Cultural and Historical Support Grant program is administered annually by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
