GRAND FORKS – Several communities in northeastern North Dakota have been approved to receive funding for projects that will celebrate and commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, the ND250 Commission has announced.
They are among 15 communities across North Dakota that have been approved for $94,355 in the most recent round of funding. They will be reimbursed for project expenses up to the approved grant amount, according to Melissa Klocke-Joyce, ND250 coordinator with the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
The funded projects, which will be part of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s Declaration of Independence, “reflect the depth and diversity of communities across the state, supporting local storytelling through art, education, performance, oral history and public programming, according to the commission’s announcement.
The Community Initiatives Grant Program helps organizations and local governments develop engaging projects that honor North Dakota’s influential role in America’s story.
The ND250 Commission is still accepting applications for funding through April 1. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations as well as city, county and tribal governments. Grant guidelines and applications are available at
. This will be the last of three rounds of funding, Klocke-Joyce said.
For example, the Pembina Gorge Foundation has received a $10,000 grant for an outreach program in which a group of five musicians will perform patriotic songs in assisted living and other care centers throughout the state, according to Helen Hutton, a foundation member. There is no cost to the care centers.
The program, titled “Frost Fire Invasion,” will run from June to July. It has also been supported with a $5,000 grant from the Myra Foundation.
The musician-actors will also be performing in the Frost Fire Summer Theater shows, “Come From Away,” in July at Walhalla, North Dakota. The Frost Fire amphitheater, five miles west of Walhalla, is still undergoing major renovation after extensive damage to the roof and walls that collapsed after heavy snows in April 2023.
The programs, which will feature music reflecting U.S. and North Dakota history and question-and-answer discussions, are also open to the public, “so they fostered a lot of community and togetherness at the care centers,” Hutton said.
Last year, through a similar program titled “Fame Invasion,” a group of musician-actors gave about 60 performances, in connection with the summer theater’s show, “Fame,” Hutton said.
In northeastern North Dakota, other grant recipients include:
- City of Maddock – $6,600 for a field trip to the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum and a professional portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt for the city’s 125th anniversary;
- Fort Pembina Historical Society – $1,000 for a lecture and workshop series covering historical topics;
- Grand Forks Public Library – $1,810 to purchase copies of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. flag etiquette booklets, discussion books, posters and honorariums for guest scholars; and
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa – $9,000 for a public historical exhibit interpreting treaty-making, land negotiations, federal policy shifts and cultural traditions that shaped the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Altogether, the ND250 Commission received 42 applications, which were reviewed and scored by a select committee.
“These grants represent more than funding – they’re an investment in how communities across North Dakota share their piece of the American story,” said Bill Peterson, director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota and chair of the ND250 Commission.
“From murals and musical theater to lectures and living history, these projects help connect people to the past in ways that are meaningful, engaging and rooted in local pride.”
The ND250 Commission, administered by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, leads the state’s efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. throughout 2026.
“Through meaningful, inclusive and inspiring projects and events, the commission celebrates North Dakota’s rich history, diverse people and bright future while honoring the state heritage, democratic values and spirit of community,” according to the recent grant announcement regarding distribution of grant funding.
