Veterans and War Memorials Grants Available‏

OPRD's Local Government Advisory Committee will review applications and recommend grants to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission.

Afghan/Iraq Freedom Memorial in Salem Photo courtesy: Q Madp/IraqWarHeroes.org

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is inviting non-profit veterans' organizations to apply for 2008 grants to help build and restore veterans' and war memorials on public property.

The 2005 Oregon Legislature created and authorized the lottery-supported grants, which successful applicants can use to fund up to 80 percent of a project's construction or restoration costs. Organizations eligible for the funding must be based in Oregon, or, like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, have chapters in the state.

The program's first grants, awarded earlier this year, supported projects to establish a new veterans' memorial in Albany's Timber Linn Park and replace a bronze statue of a Civil War soldier atop a Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery monument in southwest Portland. OPRD has $258,000 available to award in this grant cycle.

OPRD will offer information on the grant application process along with technical assistance at a workshop for eligible applicants from 1:00 - 4:00 PM October 23rd at OPRD headquarters, 725 Summer Street NE, in Salem. December 14th, 2007 is the application deadline. OPRD's Local Government Advisory Committee will review applications and recommend grants to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. Criteria used in evaluating project proposals will include partnerships involvement, public support, timeliness and sustainability.

More information about the grant program can be found online through oregon.gov/OPRD/GRANTS/veterans.shtml.