The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and the Arizona Community Foundation again are partnering to offer cost-share grant opportunities.
The association, in a new program, is offering cost-share grants from $500 to $10,000 to businesses, attractions, chambers of commerce and community organizations. Applications, which are available here, will be taken from today through April 5.
The Arizona Community Foundation is offering Route 66 grants from $1,000 to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and local, state and tribal agencies. No cost-share is required. Applications, available here, will be taken from now through April 5. The association partnered with the foundation on awarding grants last year.
Those who are unsure which grant a project would qualify for should email the association at info@historic66az.com with questions.
The association receives revenue from the Arizona Route 66 license plate program it launched in December 2016 that generated $231,000 in its first year. The robust cash flow has enabled it to move away from being a membership-based organization.
The association has supported several projects, including the repainting of the mural at Standin’ On The Corner Park in Winslow, the renovation of exhibit space in the Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman, stencils and paint for shields in the road in Parks, a donation for paint and stucco work at the Painted Desert Trading Post and the creation of an endowment at NAU’s Cline Library where the state’s Route 66 archives are collected and housed.
In total, over $80,000 has been contributed to these initiatives.
UPDATE: The association’s Nikki Seegers provided information on grants awarded last year:
Last fall we awarded $19,733 to the Williams Visitor Center for installation of a matching arch behind their building, revamping of the outdoor kiosk, and improvements to the picnic area. Work will begin this spring.
The second grant awarded was to the Research Foundation of CUNY/Queens College for the development of middle and high school classroom lessons, an association podcast designed to accompany the lessons as well as people traveling or intending to travel 66 and educational outreach at the largest social studies educational conference. Title of the project is Arizona’s Route 66: Taking Learning on the Road. This grant award was $15,000.
(Image of Route 66 near Oatman, Arizona, by Vicente Villamon via Flickr)