By Kyra Allessandrini
The National Park Service announced itās awarding $10,670,000 to help preserveĀ HBCUsĀ and on-campus repairs. The federal agency will contribute to 15 projects in eight states as part of the Historic Preservation Fundās Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesĀ grant program.
āItās vital for Americaās HBCUs to preserve their vibrant history, ensuring that the places and the events that happened there are not forgotten,ā National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in aĀ press release. āIām proud that the National Park Service can support this locally-led stewardship.ā
Efforts will kick start this year with grants to support repairs at Simmons College in Kentucky, Delaware State University and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The grant will help rehabilitate historic infrastructure like Delaware Stateās Hope House, a pre-1885 three-story frame building that will soon provide campus social services.
At Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, funding will help restore Melrose Cottage, built around 1785. It served as the university presidentās house in the first half of the 20th century and was later listed in the National Park Serviceās National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The building will house the welcome center for campus tours and the admission team.
Most universities will receive around $750,000 toward infrastructure repairs. FAMU was awarded $749,997 to rehabilitate the Carnegie Library, while Jackson State University was given $198,564 for the preservation of its Zachary T. Hubert Health Center. Alcorn State University is receiving the subsequent sum of $2,222,400, which will be put toward repairs of Harmon Hall, the rehabilitation of dormitories and the Belles Lettres Hall.