NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, announced $63,980 in grant funding was awarded for museum improvements in Franklin and Marion 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.
“It is essential that we preserve our communities’ history for future generations, and the leaders of the Museum of Power and Industry and the Jasper Regional History Museum are doing just that,” Rudder said in a statement. “These grants will allow them to make necessary improvements to best serve our citizens. I appreciate the Tennessee State Museum for helping these organizations in their efforts.”
Local grant recipients include:
- Museum of Power and Industry, Inc.: $56,480
- Jasper Regional History Museum Association: $7,500
The Museum of Power and Industry, Inc. is housed in the historic Falls Mill, built in 1873 as a cotton and woolen factory. The 32-foot waterwheel still powers machinery on four levels of the building, according to their website.
The Jasper Regional History Museum offers a glimpse into the community’s storied past with a collection of regional artifacts and memorabilia. Exhibits include Native American and Civil War era artifacts, as well as an area dedicated to vintage quilts and home goods.
These organizations can use the grants for projects like 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.
