Paine College Awarded Over $2.2 Million from National Park Service for Restoration and Preservation

July 10, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 10, 2024
Media Contact: Helene Carter
Hcarter@paine.edu – (803) 664.0080
Paine College, Augusta, GA – Paine.edu

Paine College Awarded Over $2.2 Million from National Park Service for Restoration and Preservation of Historic Structures on Campus

Augusta Georgia, July 10, 2024 – Augusta, Ga…. Paine College is pleased to announce that the National Park Service awarded $2,249,039.00 that will be utilized to restore and preserve three historical structures on campus. The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a total of $10,670,000 to 15 projects in eight states as part of the Historic Preservation Fund's HBCU grant program.

The grants awarded to Paine College will be used to address structural repairs and damage as a result of excessive moisture in Epworth Residential Hall ($750,000) that was built in 1925. Belle-Bennett Residential Hall ($749,039), built in 1962, will receive extensive restoration and conservation of interior elements. Funding will underwrite the restoration of Peters Campus Center ($750,000) that houses the cafeteria, offices, student lounge and recreation areas. Also, the grant award will address ADA accommodations and accessibility for students, staff, and visitors located in all three buildings.

"I greatly appreciate the efforts of Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock that led to the appropriation of this critical funding," said Attorney Michael Thurmond, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The entire Paine College family and our loyal supporters are celebrating this unprecedented achievement."

Dr. Cheryl Evans Jones, President of Paine College stated, "This is a significant milestone in the history of the College. This gives us the opportunity to work towards upgrading facilities to create improved spaces for students' living and learning environments. Thank you to all of the team members who worked on the proposals or assisted in any way to secure funding for Paine College."

"This achievement reaffirms that our stakeholders and partners continue to view Paine College as a beacon of hope and a valued vessel for higher education in the community," commented Helene Carter, VP of Institutional Advancement. We are appreciative of the collaborative effort that poured into the preparation and submission of the applications. This was a team effort where the College's leadership, staff, participating partners (EAB, Greenrock Partners, Building Hope, McCollom Consulting) and our friends in state and local government worked cohesively to ensure that the College would emerge victoriously."

In December 2012, the U.S. Department of Interior listed Paine College in the National Register of Historic Places and designated thirty-seven acres as a Historic District. Many of the College's buildings and structures are well over fifty years of age and are deemed historic. This designation qualifies Paine for HBCU Preservation funding.

For more information about NPS historic preservation programs and grants, and to view a list of the awardees, please visit the National Park Service website at nps.gov.

For more information about this historic milestone, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (706) 821.8323, or via email: hcarter@paine.edu.

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