Jackson County Commissioners recently put their stamp of approval on a request for financial assistance from a local historical organization in its pursuit of grants.

The $15,000 the Jackson County History Center hopes to receive as seed money, however, still needs the approval of the seven-member county council, which will determine the amount to be given.

Officials with the history center want to use state grants to make improvements at the center, which sits on 1.03 acres at Sugar and Walnut streets in Brownstown.

Margo Brewer, a volunteer with the center, made the request during a commissioners meeting Tuesday morning at the courthouse annex in Brownstown.

Brewer said the organization is pursuing a $50,000 grant from the Indiana Historical Society. The center needs to come up with $7,500, or 15 percent, if the grant is approved.

The center would be able to apply for the grant multiple times even if it is not awarded the grant first time.

Brewer said the grant would be used for heating and air conditioning in the Heller and Ball museums, new windows in the Ball Museum, enclosing an atrium in the Heller Museum and other upgrades.

In the future, the organization wants to pursue a grant for new floors in the attic and ceiling.

“There’s a lot of things that are major things where if we don’t take care of our buildings, we’re going to lose them,” Brewer said.

There’s also a barn on the property that could be converted into another museum.

The museum maintains three museums: Ball Museum, Heller Museum and Livery Barn. There also is a genealogy library and a pioneer village that includes four log structures.

The center, which has about 200 members, raises money through membership dues, fundraisers, donations and gift shop sales.

Brewer talked about the importance of the center, which hosts several events throughout the year. Beginning next week, the center will welcome fourth-graders to share the history of the county and state.

“We are the largest repository for artifacts in Jackson County,” she said. “We’re preserving our history, the stories and things we had around here, and we have stuff that needs to be in a safe environment.”

The center relies on volunteers to do maintenance, give tours and other tasks.

“We do not have a paid staff member,” Brewer told commissioners, adding the money would solely be used for the grant, not operations, wages or anything else.

Commissioners President Matt Reedy said he encourages everyone to go to the center to see what it offers.

“There’s stuff dating back to the inception of Jackson County,” he said. “The neat thing is the schools can bring their kids there to learn about Jackson County.”

The grant submission is due May 3, and Brewer said she expects the grant to be awarded in the summer.