Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Cochran, R-Englewood, and State Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonroe, today announced that $104,000 in state funding has been awarded to museums in Monroe County for capital maintenance and improvement projects.
The Tennessee State Museum awarded $87,000 to the Charles A. Hall and Billie L. Hall Family Foundation and $17,000 to the Friends of Sequoyah.
“Preserving Monroe County’s fascinating history is a noble task,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “These two organizations work hard to help keep local history alive, and we appreciate their dedication to our community. We thank the Tennessee State Museum for administering this important funding and for choosing deserving sites in Monroe County.”
The funds are part of a $5 million appropriation approved by the General Assembly for the Tennessee State Museum in the 2024-25 state budget. The competitive grants are administered by the Tennessee State Museum to museums and historic sites across the state for accessibility improvements, window and roof repairs and replacements, foundation work, and HVAC and electrical projects.
Eighty-three museums across 46 counties received a Capital Maintenance and Improvement Grant this year. Since the program’s inception in 2023, museums in 68 counties have been awarded funds to help preserve Tennessee’s history.
Assistant House Majority Leader Mark Cochran of House District 23 and State Rep. Lowell Russell of House District 21 each represent part of Monroe County.
