Every year, the San Juan County Council looks forward to awarding discretionary funds, generated by recording fees, to projects intended to promote historical preservation or historical programs.

The grants were initially awarded in 2008, and have since included a survey of historic barns, and support for several island historical societies dedicated to document preservation.

In December of 2009, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation awarded San Juan County a Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service. The awards are presented annually to public figures or governments who have demonstrated leadership in actively supporting historic preservation and programming through direct grants.

Grant applicants must be non-profit or governmental entities that perform educational, interpretive, or preservative activities intended to promote or preserve the County’s local history. Projects may be to acquire or preserve historic buildings and artifacts, to develop and present programs or events, or to perform research into local history.

Publication of the Legal Notice for Requests for Proposals is on March 24th, 2010 in the Journal and the Sounder. At that time, applications will be available on-line at www.sanjuanco.com or will be mailed/emailed upon request. The Council will accept proposals for projects to use these funds until the deadline of April 24, 2010 at 5:00 PM.

The council ad hoc review committee will determine how the total available funds of $6,298 are distributed. Contact the Clerk to the Council, Ingrid Gabriel, at ingridg@sanjuanco.com or 370-7472 with questions.