America 250-Ohio announces funding for 23 community-based projects as part of $1 million grants program to mark America’s 250th anniversary

As Ohio prepares to celebrate and commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, America 250-Ohio, the official state commission charged with leading Ohio’s recognition of the semiquincentennial, awarded $398,240 in grants to 23 communities and organizations across 15 Ohio counties as part of the commission’s first funding cycle. More than 70 organizations throughout the state submitted applications for the grants program, which is managed in partnership with Ohio Humanities. Projects funded in this round must be completed between March 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.

Details about the 23 grant recipients can be found on the America 250-Ohio blog. A few examples of projects selected for funding support include:

• “The Founding of the State of Ohio Booklet,” Capitol Square Foundation (Columbus): A project dedicated to creating a high-quality publication about the history of and the people involved in the founding of the state of Ohio. The publication will cover Ohio’s early history, starting with Lord Dunmore’s War and ending with Ohio achieving statehood in 1803.
• “Preble 250 – A Historic Timeline, Plaque Program and History Trail,” Preble County Historical Society (Eaton): A project that consists of a printed and digital timeline made in harmony with a historic plaque program resulting in a history trail that will highlight and tell stories important to Preble County, Ohio, and the United States at large.
• “Celebrating Ohio Jazz,” Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (Columbus): A Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra concert tour of five Ohio locations throughout summer 2024 that tells the stories of famous and not-so-famous jazz musicians from Ohio.
• “Recovering Ohio’s Indigenous Voices,” the Great Circle Alliance (Columbus): A project dedicated to creating an event for the general public to engage with invited artists from Ohio’s Removed Tribes. Selected through a competitive application process, the returning artists will tour Ohio and offer their responses to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, and present and discuss their oeuvres reflecting indigenous values and worldview. This event is intended to enhance the visibility of contemporary indigenous artists from the Removed Tribes and raise awareness of a Native American presence in Ohio.
• “Cincinnati’s Foodshed: An Art Atlas,” Green Umbrella (Cincinnati): A project that showcases and celebrates Ohio’s rich agriculture, food history, people and innovations by sharing stories through engaging infographics, maps, timelines and art.

“There has been a strong response to the America 250-Ohio grants program, with applications submitted from counties all across Ohio,” said Todd Kleismit, Executive Director at the America 250-Ohio Commission. “The commission takes great pride in supporting each of these projects and recognizes their potential for a lasting impact that extends far beyond the commemoration of 2026. We are thrilled to see so many meaningful ways Ohioans are coming together to create memories during this significant milestone in our nation’s history.”

The grants program is designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations and significance of all people in Ohio since before its founding to the present day. The winter 2024 funding cycle is now open with applications due March 15, 2024. During this round, the America 250-Ohio Commission will award approximately $600,000 in grant funding. The period of performance for winter 2024 recipients will be June 15, 2024 through May 31, 2025. Eligible parties must be non-profits registered within the State of Ohio, educational, and local governmental organizations located in Ohio. Individual artists, authors, or performers must apply through a non-profit fiscal agent/sponsor. For more information on eligibility, project guidance and information on applying for a grant, visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/.

The America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program offers two funding levels. The Buckeye Impact Grants offer up to $50,000 for projects with a statewide, regional or significant local impact. These projects may include significant exhibitions, regional commemorative activities, substantial digital and documentary media projects and signature public events. The Trillium Local Activity Grants offer up to $5,000 for projects with a local or community-wide impact. Trillium Local Activity Grant projects may include exhibitions, interpretative panels, local commemorative programs or activities, local public events, educational, public programs and smaller digital and documentary media projects.

Visual Assets: Visual assets including the America 250-Ohio Commission and Ohio Humanities logos are available for download here.

About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.

Contact:

Fahlgren Mortine
America250-Ohio@fahlgren.com