(Sherburne, NY – June 25, 2013) The Howard K. Finch Memorial Fund announced the decision of its Community Board to award a grant of $50,000 to Save the Sherburne Inn Restoration Project, Inc. (SSIRP) for the purposes of paying fees for a preservation architect to develop planning and schematic documents and a construction cost estimate for restoration and renovation of the Sherburne Inn building; the cost of preliminary environmental testing; and the cost of acquiring additional documentation necessary for state grant applications.
Richard M. Runyon, Trustee of the Finch Fund, said in the award letter, “This is one of the largest awards in the Finch Fund’s history, and while the Community Board realizes this project will be ongoing and difficult, they also think it will have a positive impact on the appearance of downtown Sherburne.”
Kathleen Yasas, President of the Board of Directors of SSIRP, said, “We are thrilled to have the generous support of the Howard K. Finch Memorial Fund, and so pleased to have earned their vote of confidence in our project. It’s all about community, and our vision in restoring this historic property is to not only honor Sherburne’s past, but to revitalize its future.”
The Howard K. Finch Memorial Fund was established in 1998 for the purpose of distributing funds for the benefit of the Village and Town of Sherburne. This award is SSIRP’s first major grant since its incorporation as a nonprofit organization in January 2013.