HARRISBURG.- As part of Governor Edward G. Rendell's commitment to creating a first-rate public education system, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission today announced the award of more than $3 million in grants to more than 200 museums, historical organizations and local governments statewide.

"In an era of increasingly visual and participatory learning, museums and historical organizations offer experiences that will change the lives of the next generation," said Barbara Franco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "Making sure that Pennsylvania's historical and cultural institutions continue to be supported through public funding and private philanthropy has never been more important."

PHMC, the official history agency of the commonwealth, was created in 1945 to assist non-profit organizations and local governments with the collection, conservation, and interpretation of Pennsylvania's heritage. The grant awards represent support for eligible organizations in the following areas:

1) General operating support for museums and county historical societies;
2) History and museum project grants in the following categories:
a. Archives and records management;
b. Collections management;
c. Educational, local, and public history;
d. Historic preservation; and
e. Organizational development.

In the "general operating support" category, $2.6 million in grants were approved for 118 museums and historic organizations and 50 official county historical societies. General operating support grants help eligible organizations with basic costs associated with general operating expenses.

In the "history and museum project" category, $600,000 for 73 projects were authorized, including 25 archives and records management grants; 20 education, public and local history grants; 15 museum related grants for collections management and organizational development; and 13 historic preservation grants.
PHMC grants are a valuable tool to help museums, historical organizations and local governments in their efforts to initiate, encourage and support the preservation and public access to Pennsylvania's heritage.