Worcester Telegram & Gazette – June 30, 2008
by Donna Boynton

The town of Grafton has received a $50,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which will fund long-awaited roof repairs to One Grafton Common.

The town was notified last week of the award from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund. The grant will provide 50-50 matching funds for roof replacement, associated flashing work, and repairs to the chimney, dormer, gutter and wood trim, and exterior painting of One Grafton Common. The roof was repaired two years ago, but those repairs were only guaranteed for two years, said Donna Blanchard, executive director of Apple Tree Arts.
Apple Tree Arts authored the grant application, submitted by the town. This is a positive step in a unique relationship between the town and the nonprofit arts organization. Town meeting voters last year, in a straw poll at the semiannual town meeting, voiced support to keep the historic Town Hall, despite its state of disrepair and the need for an estimated $2 million in improvements, the most important of which is the new roof.

Shortly after that vote, Apple Tree Arts, which leases space on the second floor of the Municipal Building and uses space in the Evangelical Congregational Church, stepped forward to say it was seeking space to expand and wanted to partner with the town. It offered to lend its status as a nonprofit organization to help get grants and other funding the town might not have access to for building repairs. In exchange for creating a performing arts center within One Grafton Common.

The selectmen have established a subcommittee to hammer out the details of a lease agreement with Apple Tree Arts.

“This makes a strong start to what we hope succeeds to leverage their ability to attract investment funds from private entities and foundations to help create the arts facility that they envision so that perhaps a long-term lease can be successful with the town facility, “Town Administrator Natalie T. Lashmit stated in an e-mail.

Ms. Blanchard said Friday that the town needed to guarantee matching funds for the project to be considered for grant eligibility.

Town meeting voters approved $110,000 to repair the roof last year, and the Community Preservation Committee this year received town meeting approval for $68,000 to put toward the project once grant funds are depleted.

The original grant application was for $84,000, but with only $750,000 to be distributed by the state, Apple Tree Arts was pleased the project received as much as it did.

The total project cost won’t be known until a contractor is chosen.

Both the town and Apple Tree Arts say they hope the project will be started by fall.

Apple Tree Arts serves more than 1,000 children in the Blackstone Valley.

ARCHIVES: One Grafton Common website updates

LETTER TO GRAFTON NEWS OCTOBER 22, 2008

Could This Historic Property Be The New Home of
Apple Tree Arts?