The Minnesota Historical Society will help inform local non-profit organizations on how to apply for Minnesota Historical and Cultural grants from the Legacy Amendment funds at a presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hormel Historic Home.

In 2008, a statewide vote approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Act that enacted a 3/8 cent statewide sales tax. Funds generated from that tax are distributed for history programs through the Historical and Cultural Grants, administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.

In 2011, the funds generated by the tax will be approximately $240 million with $48 million designated to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. An estimated $6.75 million of that fund will be designated to statewide Historical and Cultural Grants.

Projects eligible for consideration are described as “history programs and projects operated or conducted by or through local, county, regional or other historical or cultural organizations; or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources.” Non profit, government, tribal or educational organizations are eligible to apply for the grants.

At this workshop, participants will learn to write strong project descriptions, establish compelling need and rationale, craft meaningful measurable outcomes, and articulate enduring value and sustainability in order to increase a project’s competitiveness. Minnesota Historical Society grant staff will be available for one-on-one discussions of potential projects.

The workshop is hosted by the Hormel Historic Home and the Mower County Historical Society.

Local non-profit organizations, units of government and educators from southern Minnesota and northern Iowa are invited to participate. Organizations from Iowa are not eligible to apply for these grants but since Iowa is considering a similar amendment, organizations can sit in and learn about the

process. RSVP required to grants@mnhs.org (Specify “Austin Workshop”).