NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, State Rep. Ed Butler, R-Rickman, and State Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, announced $473,982 in grant funding was awarded to museums and historic sites in Anderson, Loudon and Roane Counties.
The funds are part of a $5 million appropriation approved by the General Assembly in the 2024-25 state budget for Tennessee State Museum Capital Maintenance and Improvement program.
“East Tennessee is full of incredibly rich history and we’re blessed to have citizens working tirelessly to preserve it for future generations,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “These grants will help them in their efforts, and we look forward to seeing the new improvements soon. We appreciate the leaders of Tennessee State Museum for supporting our region.”
Local grant recipients include:
- Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge: $89,190
- Coal Mining Museum of the Cumberlands, Inc.: $73,484
- Mayme Carmichael School Organization, Inc.: $49,400
- Museum of Appalachia: $52,000
- Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association: $50,000
- Oliver Springs Historical Society: $36,085
- Roane County Heritage Commission: $99,823
- The Lenoir Cotton Mill Association: $24,000
These organizations can use the grants to help with building or land improvements, roof repairs, HVAC projects and accessibility updates.
There were over 150 grant applications in 2024, totaling $10.5 million in funding requests, according to the Tennessee State Museum.
As of this release, the Museum has made full or partial awards to 83 museums across the state, representing 46 counties. In the two years the Museum has administered the grant program, it has served 68 counties in the state.
For a full list of grantees, counties and amounts, visit https://tnmuseum.org/grants.
John Ragan represents District 33 which includes part of Anderson County.
Ed Butler represents District 41 which includes Overton, Morgan, and part of Anderson, Fentress and Roane Counties.
Monty Fritts represents District 32 which includes part of Loudon and Roane Counties.
