OPRD release - Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 20 grants totaling $300,000 for historic properties and archaeology projects. Six of the grants were awarded in the Diamonds in the Rough category. This grant funds façade enhancements that restore the historic character of the property. The other 14 grants were in the Preserving Oregon category for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and for archaeology projects.  Funded projects:  Façade restoration grants in Burns, Lebanon, Malin, Portland, Roseburg, and Salem.  One archaeology project:  Southern Oregon University for a study to develop a plastic identification tool.  Preservation of 13 historic properties:  Kraus House, Aurora Colony Historical Society; Antelope School, Antelope; Marshfield Cemetery, Coos Bay; Madras Army Airfield North Hangar, Madras; City of Talent Town Hall, Talent; Train Depot, Wasco; Columbia County Courthouse, St. Helens; Fogelbo House, Portland; Bush House, Salem; Petersen Farm House, Deschutes County; Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook; EM&M Building, Enterprise; Weissenfels Blacksmith Shop, Mt. Angel.  These grants are approved by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, a nine-member group that reviews nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The members are professionally recognized in the fields of history, architecture, archaeology and other related disciplines.  For more information about the grant program, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at [email protected] or 503-986-0685.