December 20, 2019
The MotorCities National Heritage Area, a non-profit organization dedicated to the historic preservation of the automotive industry, has approved grant funding to a dozen organizations through its 2020 Challenge Grant and Mini Grant programs, awarding more than $66,000 to 14 projects.
Grant recipients include a diverse assortment of projects from physical restoration of historically significant buildings or vehicles to educational programs that chronicle important stories from the region’s automotive and labor history.
“MotorCities, now in its 22nd year, is proud to continue to support such a varied selection of projects which support our rich automotive and labor heritage and its influence on our communities,” said Shawn Pomaville-Size, MotorCities Executive Director.
Eight projects received Challenge Grants:
- The Automotive Hall of Fame (Dearborn): Supporting a series of four events devoted to the history and innovations of Hall of Fame honorees -- $10,000.
- Detroit Historical Society: Supporting the upcoming “Body By Fisher” exhibit and programming -- $10,000;
- Fair Lane, The Home of Clara & Henry Ford (Dearborn): Supporting updating and replacing 19 outdoor interpretive signs – $2,584;
- Flint Cultural Center Corporation: supporting the research and development of programs in conjunction with the upcoming Vehicle City Gallery at the Sloan Museum of Discovery -- $9,696.76;
- Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (Detroit): supporting the development and installation of an interactive exhibit about the Milwaukee Junction district -- $2,800;
- Model A Ford Foundation (Irmo, SC): supporting the development and installation of an interactive Ford Model A chassis exhibit at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners -- $3,000;
- Packard Motor Car Foundation (Shelby Township): supporting three different revitalization projects at the Packard Proving Grounds (PPG) site -- $10,000;
- University of Michigan Dept. of Performing Arts Technology (Ann Arbor): supporting the production of a documentary film entitled “Ten Questions for Henry Ford” -- $9,051.
Six projects are recipients of MotorCities’ mini grants, which receive awards up to $1,500. The organizations are as follows:
- Detroit School of Arts: Supporting the sixth annual Midtown Auto Show, an opportunity for students to learn about automotive careers -- $1,500;
- Engineering Society of Detroit (Southfield): Supporting the continued production of the organization’s “SciEngiMathePloration” children’s television show -- $1,500;
- Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (Detroit): Supporting the installation of a video kiosk and map near the guest entrance -- $1,500;
- Genesee County Historical Society (Flint): Supporting the creation of a digital education program utilizing iPads and video -- $1,500;
- Packard Proving Grounds (Shelby Township): Supporting the production of the organization’s first interactive display about Packard’s engineering expertise --$1,500;
- Partnership for the Arts and Humanities (Canton): Supporting production of two new Wayside Signs telling the story of the Cherry Hill Ford Village Industry-- $1,500.
The MotorCities Grant program has been funding historical and cultural preservation projects in Michigan since 1998, when Congress passed the Automobile National Heritage Area Act. Since that time, MotorCities, an affiliate of the National Park Service and the state’s only National Heritage Area, has awarded over $1.6 million in grants to more than 300 projects.