A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for the historic oak grove school in forsyth county.
Whereas, during the early 1900s, the Oak Grove School was built to educate African‑Americans living in the Bethania community of Forsyth County; and
Whereas, this one‑room building served as a schoolhouse until 1950 and became a neighborhood store for the Washington Town community in the 1960s; and
Whereas, in 1997, plans were made to restore the Oak Grove School and preserve its history; and
Whereas, in 2002, restoration of the Oak Grove School was completed after receiving numerous donations, including a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and
Whereas, the Oak Grove School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Local Historic Register; and
Whereas, the Oak Grove School currently serves as a community center that has attracted more than 1,000 visitors since its restoration and has hosted such programs as English as a Second Language, One World Art Exhibit, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Observance, and Historic Preservation Month; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to Washington Town Community Assn., Inc., a nonprofit organization, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2005‑2006 fiscal year to retire the debt for the renovations of Oak Grove School.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2005.