Highland County awarded America 250-Ohio Communities Grant for planned ‘Story Day’
In the leadup to America’s 250th anniversary, Highland County, Ohio/Visitors Bureau of Highland County announced this week it received a grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission for its upcoming project titled “Highland County’s Story Day.”
Highland County’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday will begin during our community's 2025 annual Festival of the Bells, where we will celebrate the planting of our Heritage Tree. The festival celebrates the C.S. Bell Company, which, beginning in 1875, manufactured bells for warships and institutions. We expect this momentous occasion to fuel the excitement for the many events planned thereafter.
In July 2026, “Highland County's Story Day” will center around Ohio's oldest working courthouse, where mock trials and tours take center stage. On the courthouse lawn, the Pioneer Days exhibits will highlight key aspects of Highland County's heritage, including our agricultural, industrial and cultural contributions throughout history.
This event will culminate in a "living history" concert recreating the Hillsboro Military Band, which played an integral role in community gatherings from 1880 to 1910. Through this unique musical experience, attendees will better appreciate the traditions that shaped our county.
In a joint statement, the Highland County organizational committee expressed their appreciation of the award. "We are deeply honored to receive the America250 grant award. This support affirms the importance of our mission and empowers us to contribute meaningfully to the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. We sincerely thank America250 for investing in our vision and helping us bring the rich history of Highland County to life for future generations."
In total, grants of up to $5,000 each were awarded to 57 organizations across the state of Ohio, for a total of $278,834. These grants are dedicated to funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s important contribution to American history. The grants are administered by Ohio Humanities.
In order to qualify for the grants, applicants needed to either be designated an official “America 250-Ohio Community,” and/or have a letter of support from that local government entity. These community-focused grants are aimed at helping local communities plan, organize and implement a program or event that aligns with America 250-Ohio initiatives in two broad categories: Storytelling and Education (Next Generation Citizens).
“On behalf of the America 250-Ohio commission, we congratulate Highland County Ohio/Visitors Bureau of Highland County on this grant award for their rich contributions to Ohio’s history and significance in our nation,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “This new round of grants will help Highland County to discover new and exciting ways to celebrate our state’s role within the founding of our country.”
For more information on Highland County Ohio/Visitors Bureau of Highland County, visit www.visithighlandcounty.com. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program, visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/. The America 250-Ohio Communities grant program is supported in part by Neighborhood Strategies.
About Visitors Bureau of Highland County: The mission of the Visitors Bureau of Highland County is to attract visitors to Highland County through education, promotion and marketing of attractions and activities in the region. The purpose of the VBHC is to educate, promote and provide support to tourism in Highland County. Learn more at www.visithighlandcounty.com.
About America 250-Ohio: In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
About Ohio Humanities: Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit OhioHumanities.org.
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