LEBANON — Historic preservation of buildings can be an expensive and complicated mission, but Indiana's leading preservation non-profit group hopes to make it easier by awarding grants.
Indiana Landmarks is now taking applications for the Standiford Cox grant, which is awarded to buildings important to Indiana's Black history. The organization doled out more than $200,000 in Standiford Cox grants in 2024.
![indiana landmarks.jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e7e91a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x720+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2Fe9%2F77d0cb85479e98541f1aeaf6e61d%2Findiana-landmarks.jpg)
The program was planned by its namesake, who was Eli Lilly's first Black chemist. Cox passed away in 2019 and Indiana Landmarks handed out its first Cox grants in 2020.
"Stan was a tremendous person with a great deal of vision, and we are all benefiting from that today," said Mark Dollase with Indiana Landmarks. "If we can assist in that by fulfilling Stan's mission to aid Black heritage sites across the state, then we will try to make it happen."
![lebanon church 1.jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a83a4b2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x720+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2F7e%2Ffb009d9340f2833c375d5884bee5%2Flebanon-church-1.jpg)
Missy & Kevin Krulik received $30,000 from the program last year to restore a long-abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lebanon built in 1880.
"We would not have been able to do the project without the grant, it would have been too much for us," Missy Krulik said. "There was really bad rot along the foundation."
![lebanon church 4.jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1882ae5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x720+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F19%2F31143b2e42658ac10c048c5f209e%2Flebanon-church-4.jpg)
The Kruliks hope to reopen the church as a short-term rental option featuring a gallery honoring its past.
"Even in the shape that it's in with no paint, we still have people stop us and say it looks great," Krulik said.
![lebanon church 5.jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3444589/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x720+0+0/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd2%2Fd2%2F02862da446aa87871e932906c14e%2Flebanon-church-5.jpg)
Indiana Landmarks has awarded 74 Standiford Cox grants totaling more than $1 million since the program's inception.
This year's grant applications are due before April 1.
-
Indiana State Police rescues dog from abandoned trailer in Gary
An Indiana man faces animal cruelty charges after his dog was found abandoned in an unsecured kennel on a trailer in freezing temperatures, following a tip from a concerned bystander.Tulsi Gabbard sworn in as director of national intelligence
The United States Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence.Jury convicts Orlando Mitchell in murder of Krystal Walton
Orlando Mitchell was found guilty of murdering Krystal Walton outside an Indianapolis daycare in 2022. He also faces additional serious charges.16 Tech awards $300K in grants to foster community growth and opportunity
16 Tech Community Corporation grants $300,000 to boost local projects, supporting education, health, and tech training, empowering West and Northwest neighborhoods.