Board of Examiners OKs 10-year plan for cultural preservation grants

The Nevada Board of Examiners has approved a plan that will guide the Commission for Cultural Affairs in making $30 million in grants over the next 10 years.

The commission was created a decade ago and provided $20 million in bond money to make grants for projects preserving and restoring Nevada's cultural heritage. That program expired in June, but this year's Legislature recommended renewing and expanding it to $30 million worth of bond money over the next 10 years.

The Department of Cultural Affairs reported to the board there is still significant need throughout Nevada, which "includes the potential of launching at least another 100 projects."

In addition, the report says there is a need to complete a number of major projects, such as the Lear Theater in Reno. The plan points out the new bond money will provide $3 million a year, while grant requests have averaged $7 million a year. It says half the challenge of the commission is preserving historic buildings. But the goals also include facilitating the use of those buildings as cultural centers.

The plan recommended broadening the definition of "cultural center" to include those serving seniors and youth programs, as well as regular cultural programming.

It urges the commission to play a broader role in assisting communities and local organizations in planning their projects and helping them seek major matching grants from foundations across the country.

It also calls for a feasibility analysis for any project seeking more than $200,000 in total funding and support for first-year planning grants for new projects.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.