Colorado County has been awarded a $3,245,087 grant from the Texas Historical Commission for interior restoration of the courthouse.

The award was made at the commission’s meeting on Jan. 27.

The grant was 85 percent of what the county had requested and was the highest ranked applicant out of the 40 applicants statewide. The grants awarded ranged from 50 percent to 85 percent of the amounts requested, with Colorado County being the highest at 85 percent.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome and appreciate all the hard work of everyone involved,” County Judge Ty Prause said.

The total estimated cost of the restoration had been estimated at $6,064,282. He noted that the estimated cost would be reviewed with an eye to possible cost savings.

He said that review will take place in the next couple of weeks.

However, he said that the county will be required to provide $2.5 million to $2.75 million from its own funds.

The restoration work will include updating the electrical, plumbing and air conditioning ductwork.

He said the work will include re-plastering the walls, re-finishing the woodwork, and reworking the floors.

Under plans submitted to the state, the county court courtroom on the first floor will be enlarged to near its original size, but extending the length an additional 12 feet.

He said that some of the district clerk’s records will probably be moved to the first floor and the public defender’s office, which currently has an office in the county agricultural building, will probably be moved to the courthouse.

Prause noted that the idea of issuing certificates of obligation, which are similar to bonds, to provide the county’s share of the restoration costs, had been discussed and done for the jail construction and for the exterior restoration in 2008.

Prause said that the county was one of 13 counties receiving grants totaling $21 million.

A total of 40 grants, totaling $158 million, were submitted.

The county has recently completed a project to restore the exterior of the courthouse and Prause said this would finish the complete restoration and ensure future generations of Colorado County citizens the legacy of our grand, historic courthouse.

The exterior project cost $2.4 million and the county received a grant of $1.7 million from the state.