Twenty historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are getting an infusion of federal stimulus money to preserve historic buildings on their campuses, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said at a press conference today. Salazar made the announcement as he stood in front of one of the buildings the National Park Service (NPS) has selected to receive funds, the 1913 Miner Normal School building on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., where generations of black teachers have received training. Diverging from his prepared remarks, Salazar said that the $14.25 million in historic preservation grants is "one small step of many that need to be taken to make sure that the American story is an all-inclusive story."
Based on architectural significance and critical need of repairs, the 21 projects (listed below) on 20 campuses were chosen from 107 applications submitted in June. From 1980 through 2006, the NPS granted roughly $3 million a year to HBCUs for preservation projects, but the grants required matching funds, which many schools failed to raise. U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) successfully pushed for increasing funding and easing the match requirements in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "We can't wait for these cities and counties to raise the match. What's good for the goose is good for the gander," he said in July.
A representative from the NPS is notifying grant recipients today. Grant totals range from $123,570, for the African Zion Baptist Church (1872) at West Virginia State University, to $1.75 million, for Central State University's Emery Hall (1913). Salazar said that Howard University's Miner building (1914), designed by D.C. architect Snowden Ashford, will receive $800,000 for a new roof, new windows, and initial renovations to its central auditorium, which has been closed for years. The government funding is expected to encourage private donor funding, said Leslie Fenwick, dean of Howard's School of Education, which is housed in the building.
After hearing the news, students from the school led Salazar on a tour of the site.
HBCU ARRA GRANT RECIPIENTS
Alcorn State University, Alcorn State, Miss.
Belles Lettres Hall – $400,000Allen University, Columbia, S.C.
Chappelle Auditorium – $1,000,000Bennett College, Greensboro, N.C.
Ethel Black Hall – $400,000Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio
Emery Hall – $1,750,000Cheyney University, Cheyney, Pa.
Melrose Cottage – $300,000Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
Trevor Arnett Hall – $400,000Dillard University, New Orleans
Camphor/Hartzell Complex – $800,000Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C.
Moore Hall – $500,000Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.
John Wesley Work House – $89,516Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
George M. Sampson Hall – $700,000Harris Stowe State University, St. Louis
Vashon Community Center – $1,000,000Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Miner Normal School – $800,000Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY
Old Federal Building and Post Office – $1,000,000Langston University, Langston, OK
Cottage Row Historic District – $500,000Meharry Medical College, Nashville
Hulda Margaret Lyttle Hall – $1,000,000St. Paul's College, Lawrenceville, Va.
The Saul Building – $349,706; Fine Arts Building – $245,000Talladega College, Talladega, Ala.
Foster Hall – $700,000Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss.
John W. Boddie House – $829,007West Virginia State University, Institute, W.Va.
African Zion Baptist Church – $123,570Xavier University, New Orleans
Administration Building – $463,201
