The state grant is the largest of a number of grants that have been received for the project funding, including private grants, individual donations and pledges of in-kind services.
Organizers say the hefty state grant is the saving grace of the long-planned project.
It's pretty hard to amass that kind of dollars in a small community that can do that level of restoration, so it was very exciting. Illian said the restoration of the building will provide a new home for Marble town hall, which currently is located in an old residence with no water and heated only by propane. The bank restoration is a joint project of the Marble Historical Society, the Town of Marble and Gunnison County, where Marble is located. In order to be eligible for more grants, the building was placed in September 1999 on the National Register of Historic Places, the official federal list of the nation's cultural resources worthy of preservation administered by the National Park Service. Organizers say the national registry plaque will be installed after the project is completed, likely by fall.