LEBANON — Historic preservation of buildings can be an expensive and complicated mission, but Indiana's leading preservation non-profit group hopes to make it easier by awarding grants.
Indiana Landmarks is now taking applications for the Standiford Cox grant, which is awarded to buildings important to Indiana's Black history. The organization doled out more than $200,000 in Standiford Cox grants in 2024.
The program was planned by its namesake, who was Eli Lilly's first Black chemist. Cox passed away in 2019 and Indiana Landmarks handed out its first Cox grants in 2020.
"Stan was a tremendous person with a great deal of vision, and we are all benefiting from that today," said Mark Dollase with Indiana Landmarks. "If we can assist in that by fulfilling Stan's mission to aid Black heritage sites across the state, then we will try to make it happen."
Missy & Kevin Krulik received $30,000 from the program last year to restore a long-abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lebanon built in 1880.
"We would not have been able to do the project without the grant, it would have been too much for us," Missy Krulik said. "There was really bad rot along the foundation."
The Kruliks hope to reopen the church as a short-term rental option featuring a gallery honoring its past.
"Even in the shape that it's in with no paint, we still have people stop us and say it looks great," Krulik said.
Indiana Landmarks has awarded 74 Standiford Cox grants totaling more than $1 million since the program's inception.
This year's grant applications are due before April 1.
-
Fever introduces specialty license plate, supporting women and girls fund
Indiana Fever fans can now display their team pride while supporting women and girls across the state with the debut of the franchise's first-ever specialty license plate.
2026 Peach Bowl: How to watch Indiana vs. Oregon
The No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks are set to meet in the 2026 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 58th annual Peach Bowl on January 9, 2026.
Fewer people believe their finances will improve in 2026 according to survey
Getting your finances in order is often at the top of New Year’s resolution lists, but a new survey shows fewer Americans believe their financial situation will improve in the year ahead
Odometer fraud up 14% in Indiana, according to Carfax
According to Carfax, Indiana has more than 35,000 vehicles on the road suspected of having their odometers rolled back, a 14 percent increase from the previous year.
