The Georgia Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources has awarded the City of Douglas $10,000.00 in grant funds for building improvements on Barracks #5, one of the historic buildings of the WWII 63rd Army Air Forces Contract Pilot School, located at the Douglas Municipal Gene Chambers Airport. The Georgia Heritage Grant Program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the DNR and is intended to provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations and local governments for preservation activities in the categories of preservation pre-development and development (bricks and mortar) projects. Since its initiation in 1996, over $3.6 million in matching grants have been award to a total of 258 preservation projects.
“We are fortunate to receive grant funding to help fund the preservation of our historic resources in Douglas,” says Georgia Henderson, Community Development Director. “Without alternative funding, some of Douglas’ valuable historic structures would deteriorate. We will continue to search for more funding opportunities in the future to restore more of our local heritage.”
The 63rd Army Air Forces Contract Pilot School is located on the National Register of Historic Places. One of 55 civilian Primary flying training centers across the country, Douglas’ air base is the most intact, with many of the buildings, the field, and hangars as they were during World War II. For more information about the historic airbase or Douglas Municipal Gene Chambers Airport, call Community Development at (912) 389-3433.
