America250 commission to lead fundraising, grants and a mobile museum project, department says
February 18, 2025 | 2025 Legislature NV, Nevada
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Brenda Scolari, director of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, told the Joint Subcommittee on General Government the governor has appointed nine members to an America250 commission, which will begin meeting next month and steer fundraising and programming for Nevada’s commemorative activities.
Scolari said the commission “will then oversee a fundraising effort, for some of our volunteer and civic organizations throughout the state.” The department described two special grant rounds: one run by Travel Nevada to support events and marketing in smaller communities, and another run by the Nevada Arts Council for artists and arts organizations to propose commemorative projects.
On a planned storytelling and collecting initiative, Scolari and Dan Thielen, administrator of the Division of Museums and History, described a traveling mobile museum and an oral‑history program that would gather stories statewide. Scolari said the department would seek to use part of a requested $250,000 in the Division of Museums and History account to contract a podcaster to collect some oral histories. Thielen said the division aims “to hit every county and as many of the cities in the counties that we can throughout Nevada.”
When asked how much the commission might raise, Scolari said the working group has been planning for more than a year but that fundraising will begin next month. She said the commission could set fundraising goals at its first meeting and the department hopes “to raise as much as a million dollars through that effort.”
Assemblywoman Anderson asked whether there are legislative appointees on the commission; Scolari said the governor’s appointments include industry and private‑sector leaders and the department would entertain adding a legislator. Scolari said the department hopes not to request additional legislative funding for America250 but will provide the committee with a list of commission appointees on request.
The committee asked about outreach and grant promotion; Scolari said the department will use existing grant cycles and its marketing budget to promote the effort and will use established online portals for applications.
No formal committee action or vote on grant funding occurred during the hearing; committee members asked follow‑ups and requested a list of commission appointees.
Scolari said the commission “will then oversee a fundraising effort, for some of our volunteer and civic organizations throughout the state.” The department described two special grant rounds: one run by Travel Nevada to support events and marketing in smaller communities, and another run by the Nevada Arts Council for artists and arts organizations to propose commemorative projects.
On a planned storytelling and collecting initiative, Scolari and Dan Thielen, administrator of the Division of Museums and History, described a traveling mobile museum and an oral‑history program that would gather stories statewide. Scolari said the department would seek to use part of a requested $250,000 in the Division of Museums and History account to contract a podcaster to collect some oral histories. Thielen said the division aims “to hit every county and as many of the cities in the counties that we can throughout Nevada.”
When asked how much the commission might raise, Scolari said the working group has been planning for more than a year but that fundraising will begin next month. She said the commission could set fundraising goals at its first meeting and the department hopes “to raise as much as a million dollars through that effort.”
Assemblywoman Anderson asked whether there are legislative appointees on the commission; Scolari said the governor’s appointments include industry and private‑sector leaders and the department would entertain adding a legislator. Scolari said the department hopes not to request additional legislative funding for America250 but will provide the committee with a list of commission appointees on request.
The committee asked about outreach and grant promotion; Scolari said the department will use existing grant cycles and its marketing budget to promote the effort and will use established online portals for applications.
No formal committee action or vote on grant funding occurred during the hearing; committee members asked follow‑ups and requested a list of commission appointees.
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