Seven new barn quilts were approved for the Ashtabula County Barn Quilt Trail under a grant program funded by the Civic Development Corporation (CDC).

The purpose of the grant program is to make funds available for 8-by-8-foot quilts on heritage barns. A call for grant applications went out earlier this year and approximately one dozen applications were received. Members of a review subcommittee met May 11 to review the applications and score them according to grant criteria. Businesses were not eligible for the grants, and heritage farms were given priority in the scoring process.

The awards include a Howe Truss covered bridge and six barns.

The quilts must be 8-by-8 feet and installed by September in order to qualify. Specifics will be announced after the successful candidates have been notified. An informational meeting will be held for the successful candidates later this month.

Another round of grant applications will be accepted as not all of the CDC’s grant funds were awarded in this initial offering. Applications can be downloaded here.

The Barn Quilt Steering Committee wishes to thank the CDC’s recognition of the tourism potential of barn quilts and the group’s willingness to fund these grants. We also thank those who made application and congratulates our soon-to-be barn quilt trail members.