Auburn, NY, 08/28/25 — Community Preservation Committee, Inc. is one of this year’s Preserve New York grantees. Their grant of $18,500.00 will fund the Full Building Condition Report for Willard Memorial Chapel. The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to help fund this important work. At its 2025 meeting, an independent panel selected 31 applicants in 20 counties to receive support totaling $347,500. Grants represent both of the League’s signature NYSCA regrants – Preserve New York (PNY) and Technical Assistance Grants (TAG).

“We are deeply grateful for this support, which will allow us to move forward with a comprehensive building condition report for Willard Memorial Chapel,” said Sydney Fischer, Executive Director of the Community Preservation Committee. “This report is a crucial step in ensuring that the Chapel, with its one-of-a-kind Tiffany interior, is preserved for generations to come.”

The grant will be used to complete a Building Condition Report, providing a detailed assessment of the Chapel’s structure, systems, and historic features. This report will guide future restoration efforts and help ensure the long-term preservation of the National Historic Landmark, and will address key concerns such as masonry and roof repairs, stained-glass and mosaic preservation, interior painting and stenciling, water and fire safety issues, system upgrades, and accessibility improvements. The work will be completed by consultants from Crawford & Stearns, Architects and Preservation Planners, PLLC.

“This year, the League has brought our two longstanding NYSCA partnership grants together into one cycle, allowing us to see a clear picture of the remarkable preservation work getting started across the state,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “The targeted studies funded by TAG and the expansive reports made possible by PNY will lay the groundwork for many vital projects over the years to come.”

For details and photos of all the 2025 grantees, please visit our website: preservenys.org/blog/2025-regrants 

“NYSCA is proud to support these diverse and essential projects that will allow organizations to plan for their future and safeguard New York’s rich cultural history for generations to come,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of NYSCA. “Congratulations to all of this year’s grantees and we look forward to the work you do across our state.”

Preserve New York is a regrant partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League, made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has generously provided additional funds to support nonprofit projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Since 1993, Preserve New York Grants have been providing funds to municipalities and nonprofit organizations that need technical, professional assistance to guide a variety of preservation projects. The building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys funded through this program lead to positive outcomes across New York’s 62 counties. These grants support important arts and cultural initiatives, as well as economic development related to our state’s arts and cultural heritage. With the announcement of the 2025 awards, support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 totals more than $4 million to 569 projects statewide.

About Community Preservation Committee, Inc.

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the architectural and historical elements of Auburn, Cayuga County and the surrounding areas through advocacy, education and awareness activities. The CPC and its members strive to save our past for future generations of this community by supporting and promoting historic preservation. CPC has owned and maintained the historic Willard Chapel since 1984, after saving it from becoming a dance hall. The organization intends to preserve the total Tiffany interior for years to come.

 

About the Preservation League of New York State
Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League of NYS has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The League empowers all New Yorkers to use historic preservation to enrich their communities, protect their heritage, and build a sustainable future. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state. Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague and instagram.com/preservenys

About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts awarded $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.