Historical Museum gets nearly $100,000 in state grant

The Hamtramck Historical Museum now has over $95,000 to continue building repairs thanks to a state grant.

By Alan Madeleine
The State of Michigan recently announced the annual awardees of their Community Museum Grant Program – and the Hamtramck Historical Museum (HHM) has benefitted.
The grants, originating from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), provide a total of up to $9 million annually to support Michigan museums and non-profit foundations in stabilizing, growing or thriving.
This year’s 20 awardees included some big names, such as the Detroit Zoological Society, the Henry Ford Museum, and the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, each maxing out at $819,200. In total, 7 of the 20 awardees got that maximum figure.
The Hamtramck Historical Museum got the next-to smallest award given this year, at $95,558 – but then, it is a smaller museum with a relatively small budget, payroll and etc.
We were able to catch up to Joe Kochut, the current president of the HHM, and learn a bit more about this latest windfall for the museum.

The Review: Let’s start by introducing those among our readership, who may not know you, to you – specifically, how you came to be involved with the Hamtramck Historical Museum, and then came to be in the position you are now with them now.

Joe Kochut: My name is Joe Kochut, I am a lifelong Hamtramckan, and I am the board president at the Hamtramck Historical Museum.
I got involved with the museum 11 years ago, after coming into the museum looking for clarification on some old family documents that I had found. One of our other board members asked if I would be interested in being Mr. Paczki (in what was then called the Polish Day Parade); I said yes, and the rest is history.
I came into the position I am in through years of mentorship by our Executive Director, Greg Kowalski. Six years ago, the members of our board elected me to be the board president.

The Review: You were one of the 20 recipients of the Community Museum Grant program this year.
Let’s talk a little history on that first: is this the first time the museum has been awarded one of these grants, or, if not, what is the museum’s history of receiving these CMGs (or any other important ones)?

Kochut: This is the first time we have received a Community Museum Grant directly from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).
Actually, though, we have received numerous grants in the past from both the State of Michigan and private entities. In fact, we received an initial start-up grant from the Michigan State Housing Authority.
Through the years, we have received private grants from corporations such as GM and Fiat Chrysler. The Motor Cities National Heritage Area has also provided grants for displays and exhibits.
The two most consistent sources of grants we have received have been from the Michigan Art and Culture Council (MACC) and Michigan Humanities Council, now called MIHumanities.
MACC is a division of the State of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which is a unique autonomous quasi-governmental agency within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). So, the museum has received funding from LEO in the past, but not directly.
MACC has been incredibly helpful, and has assisted with grants for furnace installations, new window installation, carpeting and flooring. MIHumanities is an independent non-profit organization, based in Okemos, and has supported the Museum with grants for programming.
One of its most outstanding grants so far received is the grant it gave the museum to commission muralist Dennis Orlowski to paint the museum’s lovely “Coming to Hamtramck, the History of Hamtramck Immigration” mural.
We also need to add (a word about) the incredible assistance we received from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 58. Over a period of several years, the volunteers from Local 58 completely redid the museum’s electrical and lighting systems.
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades also came, and restored our lovely antique tin ceiling in the main exhibit hall. Both unions made a real difference (for us).

The Review: The amount you received was modest, in comparison with that of many of the other recipients’ – in fact, only one institution received less. Still, it’s approaching $100,000, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Did they explain to you how they arrived at the amount? Some kind of formula involving space, budget, number of employees, etc.?

Kochut: We are indeed thrilled with this grant award, and are very grateful. Our original proposal request for renovation funds was for $116,000; that was $21,000 more than we received. To be frank, we are unsure how LEO decided on the final amount.
Generally, in many cases, a funding source will numerically rate the proposals, and those that achieve a certain rating will be put in a pool, and (then) the available funds prorated across the various applicants’ requests.
However, again, at this stage, the museum is not aware of the final funding formula.

The Review: Are there any stipulations on how the funds can be spent – or, for that matter, how they can’t?
Or, if there are no restrictions, do you have any concrete plans yet for where it might be earmarked; at least, any that you can discuss?

Kochut: The grant specifically was for capital; that is, renovation to our 100-year-old facility. We asked for funds for specific renovations, and they must be used for these items.
These include roof replacement, repair of the elevator, repair of the access stairs to the basement, abatement of asbestos in the presently unused basement, wall and plaster repair and painting, floor repair, and replacement of the large upper windows on the front façade of the museum.
We want to make the museum a place that the Hamtramck community can (really be) proud of. After all, in a real way it belongs to the whole community.

The Review: Is there a plan to apply again next year, or would you even be eligible? Or for any other grants, that you’re able to speak about?

Kochut: The museum tries to apply for any grant that is appropriate, and fulfills either a programming, or a building renovation, need.
The LEO Community Museum Grant is on a five-year grant cycle, so I am not sure there will be another round next year.

The Review: One of the strange things about receiving a grant like this, when it’s made public, is that the public might assume that all your financial needs are now covered for a while, and then they (maybe) back off of donating.
But this grant money, substantial as it is, is really only a partial fix that goes just so far, right?

Kochut: This grant is purely for renovation funds. It will not be used for operations in any way, shape or form. So, we sure hope that the community continues to support us in the generous manner they have (been).
The continued support is crucial to continue to operate and “keep the lights on,” so to speak. In fact, this grant — and others — show that we are fastidious stewards of the community’s donations, and try, in every instance, to leverage the support they give us.
In 2012, the museum’s board of directors was donated the present facility, which was the former Wisper and Swartz Department Store, and which was in need of substantial repair. People may also remember it as a barber college or a dollar store.
For the past 13 years, we have been slowly renovating the building — as funds and grants become available. Through the years, the community has been very kind, and it has (also) donated funds for renovation — and substantial progress has been made.
In addition, the museum was granted $50,000 from the sale of the former People’s Community Services building on Joseph Campau Ave. to the Hamtramck Public Schools. These funds will be added to the LEO grant to leverage as much renovation as possible.
It should be added that, while the grant will make a substantial dent in our renovation efforts, the facility will still need additional renovations.
But, this grant will take care of the most pressing needs.

The Review: Is there anything else you would like to add at this point? The floor, as they say, is yours …

Kochut: Again, we want to thank the Hamtramck community, our Museum Memberships, and other partners (like the City of Hamtramck, and Wayne State University) for all their wonderful support.
State Senator Stephanie Chang was also very supportive of this proposal at the state level.
As I noted previously, this museum is a museum for the whole community – a museum for everyone.

(The Hamtramck Historical Museum is located at 9525 Jos. Campau Ave. The museum is open Friday through Sunday. Call them at (313) 262-6571 for more information.)
Posted July 18, 2025