$8.9 million sought by groups this year from the state cultural affairs commission

A list of 31 different nonprofit groups are seeking a total of $8.9 million from the Nevada Commission on Cultural Affairs this year.

The commission meeting to review the applications is set for March 20 at the Nevada State Library and Archives.

The commission receives about $3.12 million in bond money every year to award to different historic preservation and renovation projects.

Two of the biggest recipients over the past decade have been the Fourth Ward School and Piper's Opera House, both in Virginia City.

State Historic Preservation Officer Ron James said the applications are always about three times the amount the commission has to give.

This year, the Fourth Ward School is asking $133,000 to continue restoration work in the basement. Piper's is seeking $490,000 to continue restoration of that structure.

The largest request on the list is from the City of Las Vegas to restore the old downtown federal building-U.S. Post Office - $1.1 million.

The Nevada Indian Commission wants $310,300 to restore Stewart Indian School and the Douglas County Historical Society is seeking $66,000 for work on the Genoa Courthouse Museum.

The Gold Hill Historical Society wants $79,000 for projects at the Gold Hill Railroad Station and Washoe County is seeking $300,000 for work on Bowers Mansion.

Most of the organizations on the list are repeat applicants for funding.

One new name on the list this year is the Astronomical Society of Nevada, which is seeking $704,800 for work on the Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center at The University of Nevada, Reno.