The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced nine projects through the Route 66 Black Experiences Grants program that were awarded $5,000 each.
The 2024 recipients and the cities where they are based are:
- Choctaw Freedman Citizenship Footprints Inc. in Oklahoma City
- Black Business Alliance in Bloomington, Illinois
- Threatt Filling Station Foundation in Luther, Oklahoma
- Jack Dunham of Winslow, Arizona
- Mary Alice Hayes of Winslow, Arizona
- Wine Now LLC in Rancho Cucamonga, California
- California Girls Legacy LLC in San Bernardino, California
- Destined Joy’s Kreations Inc. in Chicago
- Ebony P. Wilson of Springfield, Illinois
The Choctaw Freedman Citizenship Footprints will use its research and information grant to promote the organization’s new “Black Experiences on Route 66” project by updating its website and supporting marketing of the organization and its projects to local churches and other organizations.
The Black Business Alliance will purchase new or update its existing computer operating systems to assist local Black-owned businesses.
Phase II of the Threatt Family Farm & Filling Station Restoration Project under the Threatt Filling Station Foundation will apply its grant to develop a visitor’s welcome and interpretive center at the site. The Threatt Filling Station is believed to be the only Black-owned and operated gas station on Route 66 during the Jim Crow era.
Jack Dunham owns the J & F Auto Detailing shop along Route 66 in Winslow. He plans to replace doors, upgrade lighting and repair the roof to what has been an auto garage for more than 50 years.
Also in Winslow, the grant to Mary Hayes will provide new signage, replace out-of-date equipment and purchase products used at her Dare 2B Different beauty salon.
Dezzarae Henderson of Wine Now, LLC will use her grant to replace an air conditioning unit at the Wine Now wine tasting room, store and lounge.
California Girls Legacy LLC will assist in revitalizing downtown San Bernardino by enhancing marketing efforts, expanding inventory and organizing or hosting community events at Three Little Blue Birds, a recently opened retail boutique along Route 66, which held its grand opening in early September.
Destined Joy Kreations’ mission is to inspire and support youth in Chicago by helping them learn basic culinary skills. This grant will be used to buy supplies and food safety materials.
Ebony Wilson’s Jus’ Jump Around LLC is a neighborhood initiative to fund the use of inflatables as a way of helping parents on the west end of Springfield. The grant will be used to buy storage for the inflatables and trailers to transport them. Every rental unit will include fun-fact material about where the company originated and local Route 66 attractions customers can visit with their families.
The Black Experiences Grant Program was established when American Express provided $250,000 for direct grants to help Black-owned and/or operated businesses and attractions along Route 66.
The funds also support research and programs that interpret and tell the stories of Black experiences associated with Route 66.
The first two rounds of the Road Ahead’s Black Experiences Grant Program were held in 2022 and 2023. In addition to these 2024 grants, the program will be administered in 2025 and 2026.
The Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program is part of the Road Ahead’s 100th anniversary of Route 66 celebration. Through the centennial, the Road Ahead aims to help the millions of people who live, work and travel along Route 66 with projects focused on preservation, promotion, research or education and the economic development of Route 66.
(Courtesy image of Ed Threatt and Bill Thomas at the Threatt Filling Station in Luther, Oklahoma, in 2022)