August 29, 2020 - 5:29 AM
MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Preservation Trust of Vermont is getting a $745,000 grant from the National Park Service that is now named after the late founder of the Vermont organization.
The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant was one of eight applications funded nationally as part of the Leahy-created program to invest in historic preservation in rural communities.
The program was renamed in honour Vermonter Paul Bruhn, a longtime champion of historic preservation and original founder of the Preservation Trust of Vermont who died last year.
“The adaptation and reuse of Vermont’s historic structures is crucial to preserving the identity of our local communities," Leahy said in a statement. “While this pandemic has forced us to be physically apart, it has made clear how important it is to invest in spaces where people can gather to socialize, exchange ideas and participate in democracy.”
The trust announced separately that Ben Doyle, of Montpelier will become the permanent head of the organization on Oct. 5.
Since Bruhn's death in September 2019, the organization has been led by interim director Liz Gamache, a member of the trust’s board of directors.
Doyle is currently the northern Vermont area director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
News from © The Associated Press, 2020