Ohioans Make History Through New Tax Check-off Donations to Ohio Historical Society and Its Statewide Matching Grants Program

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The individual state income tax forms will have a new entry, giving residents of the Buckeye State the opportunity to help make history. 

Burt Logan, Executive Director of the Ohio Historical Society, is pleased to announce that Ohio taxpayers now may donate a portion of their state income tax refund to a matching grants program to be administered by the Ohio Historical Society (OHS).

Ohio residents filling out their state tax forms will simply complete a box specifying how much of their refund they wish to allocate to OHS for this program. The Society will use the tax check-off revenue to fund local history projects statewide through a new competitive matching grants program. Communities across Ohio will benefit. Projects may include the rehabilitation of older buildings, natural history projects, archiving projects, archaeological digs, educational programs, exhibits, and similar efforts across Ohio.

"Ohioans receiving a refund can help make history by contributing a portion of their state income tax refund to the Ohio Historical Society grants program," said Logan. "The funds collected will have a tremendous impact in saving Ohio's rich history throughout the state. Each of us can do our share to help preserve Ohio's past. Every contribution—of any size—will make a difference. We currently work with about 900 historical entities in the state; this program will broaden the ripple effect even beyond that."

The new tax check-off was created in the state's two-year budget and signed into law by Gov. John R. Kasich, June 30, 2011. The legislation was initially brought to the General Assembly in 2005 by former State Rep. Kathleen Chandler (D-Kent). State Rep. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) re-introduced it in 2011 before it was enacted in the state budget. This new history option joins three other options on the tax form.

OHS is establishing guidelines for applying for the matching grants. Application guidelines are expected to be in place by late spring 2012. History-related entities interested in applying can check the website at Ohiohistory.org or contact [email protected]. When the grant winners are selected, locally raised funds will match the voluntary contributions that have been generated from individual taxpayers as designated on their tax forms.

For general information about the Ohio Historical Society, visit www.ohiohistory.org or contact: [email protected].

Or For More Information, Contact: 
Sarah Irvin Clark, 614.296.4057

SOURCE Ohio Historical Society