AUGUSTA – The Livermore-Livermore Falls Historical Society has received a grant of $2,300 to improve access to its History House facility by installing a handicapped accessible ramp into the building. The grant was provided by the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board with funds from the state’s New Century Community Program.

As many have noted, the “creative economy” is an important factor in the state’s economic growth. With studies showing that cultural resources are important in decisions to locate businesses or to choose a community in which to retire, the grants sustain the basic infrastructure of this key sector of the economy.

“Grants of this kind support community efforts to protect the stories of our birth, property rights, government, and how we lived our lives,” said Jim Henderson, director of the Maine State Archives.

“People need to document their birth or naturalization to obtain a passport or to get medical care; others research their property boundaries; some seek long-lost relatives or to understand the history of the old saw mill down the road. Without these precious records, most questions like this would remain unanswered,” he said.

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said a recent report to the Maine Legislature indicated that many of Maine’s historical collections (photographs, paintings, natural history collections, letters) are in danger of being lost to mold, fire, theft or misuse.

“Maine has an estimated 2,000 million historical records, many in facilities with little or no security, fire protection or environmental controls. Recent surveys show that Maine people in local government, historical societies and libraries are seeing help to preserve our heritage,” Dunlap said.

Small grants have stimulate local citizens and organizations to commit more of their own resources to the projects. “Although financial support is important, recognition of local concerns and effort through an award also generates a substantial amount of enthusiasm,” Henderson said.

The Maine State Archives is a bureau within the Department of the Secretary of the State. For information about the Historical Facilities Grant Program, call Peggy Shiels at the Cultural Resources Information Center at 287-7591 or [email protected] or visit the historical grants Web site at www.maine.gov/sos/arc/mhrab/grant.html.