Herald photo by Rose Hooper
Paintbrush in hand, Jay Spiro raises the hammer level on the fund-raising total for downtown Sylva's Hooper House. With the acquisition of two grants this week, the foundation has almost reached the $300,000 mark. "But we're not there yet," cautioned Spiro who said that monetary support from local residents is still needed "to help us go over the top." Although any amount will be greatly appreciated, donations of $150 and up will be recognized with an engraved brick paver in the sidewalk in front of the house. |
The N.C. Board of Transportation awarded $1.7 million in federal funds for 12 community projects sponsored by local governments and non-profit organizations.
The grants made to Highway Division 14, which includes Jackson County, are to preserve history, expand transportation options, improve the environment and support economic progress. In Jackson County, the Hooper House Preservation Foundation received $113,054 to restore the Hooper House to include a visitor center. The local match is $28,264, for a total project cost of $141,318. Currently completing phase I of a three-phase renovation, the Hooper House, built in 1906, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The visitor center will be located in the ground-floor parlor, which will be the first room on the right. "I feel good about this grant because we received the full amount we requested," said Jay Spiro, foundation president. "I believe that was due, in part, to the strong support we received from our local transportation board member Ron Leatherwood of Waynesville." The grants, called federal enhancement funds through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, will be used for "some of the most innovative and creative projects in the region," said Leatherwood. The Tribal Planning Office of the Eastern Band of Cherokee received $99,990 to construct a visitor center/tourism information building in the business district on the reservation. Local match on that project is $24,998, for a total project cost of $124,988. |