Bath Township awarded the Trillium Local Activity Grant

In the lead up to America’s 250th anniversary, Bath Township announced it received a Trillium Local Activity Grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission. This $4,800 grant will support community projects and heritage-themed events planned for 2024 and will be coordinated by the Heritage Corridors of Bath committee.

Bath Township was one of 23 recipients chosen from more than 70 statewide applications during the grant program’s fall 2023 funding cycle. The America 250-Ohio Commission grants program will work with Ohio Humanities to distribute the grants by June 30. The program is designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations and significance of all people in Ohio ranging from before its founding to present day.

The Trillium Local Activity Grants offer up to $5,000 for projects with a local or community-wide impact. This application was submitted with the intent to highlight the township’s rich heritage represented by the many barns in the community.

“It is clear the committee has worked hard to focus their efforts on our heritage and community events,” said Sharon Troike, Bath Township trustee. “They have had our support from the start, but it is great to receive a positive affirmation for the project from the state.”

With the support of the Bath Township Trustees, Discover Bath Barns, a sub-committee of the Heritage Corridors of Bath, submitted the application.

Said James McClellan, chair of Discover Bath Barns, “Our goals are to preserve our heritage represented by the barns while finding ways to enhance the experience when traveling on the byways in the township. This grant will enable us to celebrate that heritage through events open to the entire community.”

Specifically, the grant funds will support a series of events that commemorate this rich heritage, through the lens of the community’s barns. These events are planned for various venues in the township, and the program is designed for all citizens of the community to participate.

The events include the Commemorative Barn Social at Bath Township Historic Town Hall; an exhibit on Bath’s agricultural heritage, which includes displays at the historic Bath Township Museum; a traditional Road Rally; a ribbon-cutting on the new Heritage Barns of Bath Trail portion of the existing scenic byway; and a Heritage Barns of Bath trolley tour of the township’s historic sites.

In the coming weeks and months, look for additional information on these events on the Bath Township website and Facebook page. ∞

Photo: Bath Township is awarded a grant during a ceremony featuring (l-r) Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-OH; James McClellan, chair of Discover Bath Barns subcommittee; Maureen Katanic; Lisa Shaheen; Bath Trustee Elaina Goodrich; Greg Gulish; Megan Wood, president and CEO of the Ohio History Connection; and Kathy Dean-Dielman, president of the Lorain County Historical Society. Photo submitted.