National Trust announces a total of 25 Route 66 Legacy Business Grant awards

The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Wednesday announced the latest selections for its Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Program, part of its Preserve Route 66 initiative.

Twenty-five grants were awarded in all eight states that Route 66 goes through for a total of $227,323.

Here is the list of awarded projects and dollar amounts:

• $10,000 to O’Brien Tire & Auto Care in Granite City, Illinois, for building repair and roof work.
• $10,000 to the Acres Inn restaurant in Pontiac, Illinois, for accessibility updates and facade improvements.
• $5,875 to Mel-O-Cream Donuts in Springfield, Illinois, for a roadside attraction installation.
• $10,000 to Plaid Coffee Roasters in Edwardsville, Illinois, for building restoration and paint, including a mural.
• $10,000 to Craig Winslow Studio in Portland, Oregon, for Phase II of the Light Capsule Project related to Ghost Signs along Illinois’ Route 66.
• $3,458 to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis for sign restoration and banner installation.
• $10,000 to the Shamrock Court motel in Sullivan, Missouri, for final renovations to reopen to the public.
• $10,000 to the Downtown Service Station in Waynesville, Missouri, for lighting replacement.
• $5,350 to Spencer Station in Spencer, Missouri, for tuckpointing and structural wall repair.
• $10,000 to Grizzly Contracting & Supply in Galena, Kansas, for facade restoration of the former Front Street Garage.
• $10,000 to The Frozen Elephant in Miami, Oklahoma, for concrete and facade repair at the historic Marathon Filling Station.
• $10,000 to the Western Motel in Vinita, Oklahoma, for paint and Route 66 centennial mural installation.
• $10,000 to the Blue Dome Filling Station in Tulsa for facade restoration.
• $10,000 to Zero Tolerance Coffee and Cacao in Oklahoma City for a storytelling project tied to Cherokee heritage and Native veterans.
• $10,000 to Hair Expressions Studios in Yukon, Oklahoma, for building restoration.
• $9,638 to Jericho Tourist Courts in Jericho, Texas, for building restoration and preservation.
• $10,000 to Pecos River Cabins in Pecos, New Mexico, for building restoration.
• $10,000 to the El Chante: Casa de Cultura in Albuquerque for exterior painting and stucco restoration of the John Milne home.
• $10,000 to the Winslow Theater in Winslow, Arizona, for painting and interior restoration.
• $10,000 to Motel DuBeau in Flagstaff, Arizona, for neon sign restoration.
• $10,000 to Westside Lilo’s Cafe in Seligman, Arizona, for flooring replacement.
• $10,000 to Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arizona, for paint and centennial mural installation.
• $10,000 to Villain Custom Cycles in Pasadena, California, for a Route 66 community mural.
• $3,000 to Econoprint in Pasadena, California, for painting and exterior restoration.
• $10,000 to Mel’s Drive-In in Santa Monica, California, for a centennial signage project.

“Small, local businesses are the lifeblood of Route 66,” said Rhys Martin, manager of the Preserve Route 66 program, stated in a news release. “It’s known as the Main Street of America for a good reason! With this grant, the Trust is helping these small businesses preserve their historic properties or enhance their legacy on this highway that attracts visitors from all over the world.”

Another grant round is expected to be announced later this year.

(Image of the Motel DuBeau sign by John Matthies via Flickr)