Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves $800,000

for McKinley National Monument Project

Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $800,000 at its quarterly meeting yesterday for restoration of the McKinley National Monument.

The state funds will be used for restoration work on the three granite staircases to the McKinley National Monument, which celebrates its 100^th anniversary in June 2007.

The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows the Stark County Historical Society to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in H.B. 675 of the 124^th General Assembly and Am. Sub. H.B. 16 and Am. Sub. H.B. 699 of the 126^th General Assembly. Stark County General Assembly members who voted in favor of the bills include Senators John Boccieri, Teresa Fedor, and Kirk Schuring and Representatives Robert Hagan, John Hagan, Scott Oelslager, and William Healy, and former Representatives Jeanine Perry, Lynn Olman, and Daniel Metelsky.

The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that helps enhance the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed nearly $400 million of capital funds appropriated by the legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at non-profit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues. The Commission partners with non-profit groups and local governments on nearly 250 projects in 65 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.

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