Posted on by buncombe250_d0rov1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 4, 2025                                                                                       

Contact: Anne Kaufmann
info@buncombe250.org

$10,000 America 250 NC Grant Awarded to Buncombe County Committee to plan for Commemoration of the Nation’s Founding in 2026.

The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources “America250 NC” initiative awards funds to support grassroots, non-partisan planning and promotion of the nation’s semiquincentennial observances across Buncombe County in 2026.

Asheville, NC— The America 250 NC Buncombe County Committee’s plans to promote local observances of our nation’s founding and its 250-year history is now under way, made possible by a grant from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) as part of the America 250 NC initiative.

This funding is part of nearly $1.2 million distributed across 74 participating counties statewide to support programs and projects leading up to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Currently funded projects statewide include community planning, cultural events, physical and digital exhibits, historical markers, and other initiatives that highlight North Carolina’s Revolutionary history and the broader themes of America 250 NC.

“These America 250 NC grants will help local N.C. communities more fully participate in the nationwide commemoration of our nation’s founding,” said DNCR Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell. Planning by the Buncombe County committee, established by a resolution approved by the Buncombe County Commissioners in April of this year, looks to facilitate and support planning for the milestone anniversary beginning with listening sessions and promotional activities late in 2025.

“The American Spirit exhibited here in Buncombe County this past year, in the wake of Hurricane Helene, garnered national attention, rightly so, and that same spirit of service, generosity, and civic unity is something we would like to engender as we observe our nation’s founding” said Glenn Stach, Director of the Buncombe County America250 NC Committee. From 2018 to 2022 Mr. Stach served as planning director for the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, the Congressionally established body charged with planning the nation’s observances in 2026. “Many of our cultural institutions and those of us practicing in the fields of history, historic preservation, and heritage tourism had been waiting for an A250NC committee to form locally; after the storm we decided it’s now or never, and we want to ensure the state’s resources for the commemoration are available to Buncombe County’s citizens and visitors in 2026” said Stach. Plans and aspirations for the year-long commemoration include community-wide acts of service, commemorative tree plantings and reforestation efforts, educational and field trip opportunities, community gatherings, and a host of programs and events planned to highlight North Carolina history.

“The educational activities planned in support of the semiquincentennial will offer opportunities to engage with 250 years of NC history,” said Jason Hyatt, Director of Buncombe County Public Libraries.  State resources on this topic include “The When Are We US?” print-on-demand exhibit, a thought-provoking approach to commemorating the US 250th anniversary that delves into the history of immigration, integration, fundamental rights, emancipation, and voting in North Carolina. Exhibit link

Start Planning Now for 2026!
Community organizations, local government, schools, businesses, tourism partners, faith communities, and individuals are encouraged to begin planning programs, events, and projects that celebrate 250 years of American and NC history. “This initiative is truly grassroots, our goal is to spur forward observances from a broad cross section of representative individuals and organizations” said Anne Chesky, of the Friends of the WNC Museum of History & Culture, the organization serving as fiscal agent for the Buncombe County America250 NC committee. In the fall of 2025, the Committee will host a series of listening sessions to facilitate individual and organizational expressions for the 250th. Find out more at www.buncombe250.org

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