Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has awarded the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village a $15,000 grant for general operating costs to help recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the museum.
“The American Rescue Plan funding will help us keep the current staff we have and pay our bills at the Pioneer Florida Museum,” Stephanie Bracknell Black, the museum’s executive director, said in the release. “It will allow us to continue to serve our community. We are so very grateful for the American Rescue Plan grant and for Florida Humanities being able to get these funds to organizations like ours that continue to feel the hardships and work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Black added.
The NEH received $135 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.
The state humanities councils, including Florida Humanities, each received a portion of the NEH award to support museums, archives, historic sites and other humanities-focused nonprofits. The Pioneer Florida Museum was one of 129 organizations in Florida that was awarded ARP funding totaling $1.88 million from Florida Humanities, the new release says.
“The grants are intended to meet immediate operational needs in order for organizations to remain viable and maintain delivery of public humanities programming and resources in their communities. Florida Humanities received 188 applications for ARP funding, with nonprofits requesting the most funds for staffing and utilities.
Dr. Nashid Madyun, executive director of Florida Humanities, said in the release that the funds provide a safety net for the organizations so they can focus on other priorities, such as fundraising and creating programming.
“For smaller nonprofits, when bills are paid and staff are safe and intact, that type of alleviation is immeasurable,” he said. “Florida Humanities is honored to provide a lifeline to our state’s cultural and historic organizations, ensuring they continue to enrich their local communities, and the Sunshine State at large, for years to come,” Madyun said, in the release.
Funding for this grant was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and NEH’s Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.
The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation and education of Florida’s pioneer heritage.
It regularly hosts events that offer fun ways to learn about history and give families the opportunity to enjoy affordable, entertaining outings.
The museum is located a mile north of downtown Dade City, is just off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.
For more information, call the museum at 352-567-0262, visit its website at PioneerFloridaMuseum.org or its Facebook page, at Facebook.com/pioneerfloridamuseum.
Published January 19, 2022
