Silos & Smokestacks Funds Charles City, Others to Tell America’s Agricultural Story 

A handful of north and northeast Iowa projects will share in about $21,000 in funding from the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) to help tell America’s agricultural story.

The SSNHA is awarding $50,000 in all to 10 Heritage Area sites, communities and organizations across the state. Projects funded through the Large and Small Projects Program Awards are dedicated to telling America’s agricultural stories, both past and present. 

Awards include almost $3,000 for the Floyd County Historical Society and Floyd County Museum in Charles City for it’s Tractor Information and Services Expansion Project that will preserve collections related to Oliver/White Corporation.

The Iowa Dairy Center in Calmar will receive almost $5,400 to update and expand areas of the Iowa’s Dairy Story Program and enhance the visitor experience by sharing stories of Iowa’s dairy community.

Sunflower Child Care Center in Decorah was awarded $3,000 for the interpretive planning and preliminary exhibit designs for the new children’s Decorah Discovery Center. 

The Motor Mill Foundation at Elkader will received almost $9,000 to create more accessible on-site interpretive opportunities, expand educational resources, and incorporate digital techniques to enhance the visitor experience at Motor Mill Historic Site.

The Wright County Historical Society was awarded $800 to revise, replace, and restore the signs that welcome visitors to the Dows Historic District.

Projects funded through SSNHA Program Awards must provide a non-federal match to the grant award.