Rural tourism projects win funding

Rural tourism projects ranging from a visitor trail through a railroad museum in Ely to the conversion of an old school in Fallon into a community arts center won funding from the state government.

A seven-member committee from the state commissions on economic development and tourism selected 15 projects for funding that total $1.3 million. The program received 41 applications for grants.

Northern Nevada projects that were funded:

* Churchill Arts Council in Fallon, $10,000 to help complete conversion of an old school into Oats Park Art Center.

* Humboldt Development Authority in Winnemucca, $10,000 to purchase 30 acre-feet of water rights to supply Winnemucca Regional Raceway.

* Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority at South Shore, $3.968 for 50 bases for fiberglass bear forms to be displayed during Bears by the Lake May through September.

* Lovelock/Pershing County Chamber of Commerce, $25,000 for additional billboards and chains for "locking your love" and a sculpture to enhance the new Lovers Lock Plaza attraction.

* Virginia City Convention & Tourism Authority, $26,125 to install an 1800s-era reproduction tin ceiling at its visitor center.

* Wells Chamber of Commerce, $15,000 to purchase the currently rented facility of the California Trail Interpretive Center.

* City of West Wendover, $15,000 to complete a Wendover timeline mural.

* White Pine Chamber of Commerce, Ely, $8,000 for a new sign at its office.

* White Pine Historic Railroad Foundation, Ely, $6,315 for a walking trail and restrooms at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum complex.