On Friday Feb 13th, the Westport River Watershed Alliance (WRWA) learned it is the recipient of a $450,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF). Together with other WRWA resources, that grant will be used for a major project to restore and adapt the WRWA's Head of Westport garage, a building dating from the early 1700s that is located on the Town Landing at the intersection of Old County and Drift Roads.

"This is a great day for the entire WRWA family," said WRWA executive director Deborah Weaver. "This is a highly competitive grant- receiving the award not only recognizes the work of staff and board members who wrote an exceptionally strong grant application; it also validates nearly four decades of work by hundreds of members and volunteers in support of the Westport River watershed."

The Massachusetts Legislature created the Cultural Facilities Fund in July 2006, appropriating an initial $13 million as part of an omnibus economic stimulus bill. CFF grants support Massachusetts non-profit organizations with building projects that increase tourism, create new jobs, leverage private funding and expand activities in communities across the state. The latest round of CFF grants was made possible by an appropriation by the Legislature as part of a FY2016 budget. Upon hearing about the award, state representative Paul Schmid commented, "Three cheers for the Watershed Alliance. The WRWA facility will be one of the jewels of Westport and the center of a developing neighborhood of great cultural and civic importance."