The Chenango County Historical Society has been awarded a Technical Assistance grant of $1,785 which will fund a Specialized Conservation Study for the roof of Ward School No. 2. (File photo)

NORWICH — The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) is one of this year’s Technical Assistance grantees. Their grant of $1,785 will fund a Specialized Conservation Study for the roof of Ward School No. 2, the museum’s flagship facility. The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to help fund this important work. At its 2025 meeting, an independent panel selected 31 applicants in 20 counties to receive support totaling $347,500. Grants represent both of the League’s signature NYSCA regrants – Preserve New York (PNY) and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG).

“We are incredibly grateful to the Preservation League and its partnering organizations for this grant!” said Jessica Moquin, Executive Director of CCHS. “This study is the next step in ensuring that Ward School No. 2 will be historically preserved for future generations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to give our flagship structure the care and attention it deserves.”

CCHS will be working with Delta Engineers, Architects, & Surveyors to conduct a Specialized Conservation Study of the current roof in preparation of its replacement in the next few years. Information shared following the Specialized Conservation Study will allow CCHS to better facilitate capital planning and asset management moving forward.

“This year, the League has brought our two longstanding NYSCA partnership grants together into one cycle, allowing us to see a clear picture of the remarkable preservation work getting started across the state,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The targeted studies funded by TAG and the expansive reports made possible by PNY will lay the groundwork for many vital projects over the years to come.”

For details and photos of all the 2025 grantees, please visit our website: preservenys.org/blog/2025-regrants

“NYSCA is proud to support these diverse and essential projects that will allow organizations to plan for their future and safeguard New York’s rich cultural history for generations to come,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of NYSCA.  “Congratulations to all of this year’s grantees and we look forward to the work you do across our state.”

The Technical Assistance Grant program is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Additional funding for Technical Assistance Grants is provided by the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for projects within the Hudson Valley Greenway.

The Technical Assistance Grant program supports arts centers, historic sites, music halls, theaters, and other arts and cultural nonprofit or municipal entities that steward historic buildings throughout New York State. With the announcement of the 2025 awards, support provided by TAG since its launch in 2012 totals $819,320. These grants have directly advanced the efforts of 242 preservation projects.

Established in 1939, CCHS explores the culture of Chenango County through the preservation and presentation of local heritage. Museum patrons are immersed in the center of the region’s past through programs exploring the rich history of the area. CCHS offers a wide variety of cultural enrichment and learning programs for an array of audiences. Programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The museum is also a proud partner of Bloomberg Connects, an app that enhances the visitor experience through audio clips, videos, and more. Download this free digital museum guide via the Apple Store or Google Play. Visit ChenangoHistorical.org for more about this and other museum initiatives.

Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League of NYS has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The League empowers all New Yorkers to use historic preservation to enrich their communities, protect their heritage, and build a sustainable future. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state. Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague and instagram.com/preservenys.

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts awarded $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

- Information from CCHS