The Wheeling Heritage Partnership Grant Program is helping bring new life, creativity and community investment to projects across the Friendly City. Designed to support local businesses, artists and organizations working to preserve and celebrate Wheeling’s history and culture, the program offers funding opportunities in areas including Education & Interpretation, Small Business Development, Arts, Recreation, and Fairs & Festivals.
One branch of the program, the Artist Grant, provides support for projects that add beauty and vibrancy to highly visible public spaces throughout Wheeling. According to Wheeling Heritage, artist grants of up to $1,000 can help cover expenses such as supplies, studio time, performances, exhibits, recordings and other project-related costs.
A Colorful Welcome at King’s Daughters
Last September, Jamie A. Remp, executive director of King’s Daughters Child Care Center, applied for and received a $1,000 Partnership Artist Grant to complete the center’s “Watch Me Grow” mural project.
Located in Wheeling, King’s Daughters Child Care Center serves infants, toddlers and preschoolers, with a mission centered on creating a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children and families. Remp, who joined the organization in 2014 after more than two decades in the financial industry, said the mural was envisioned as a colorful finishing touch to the center’s recent expansion.
“The reason behind the mural is this: after we finished the expansion, we wanted to add something fun that tied into not only childcare but also the beautiful artwork you find around the downtown area,” Remp shared. “We love seeing the mural at Sarah’s on Main and the Bridge Tavern, to name a couple. We knew we wanted our families and visitors to see something bright, colorful and welcoming when they arrived at King’s Daughters Child Care Center.”
Remp said Roxanne Bruce of Creative Canvas worked closely with the center to bring the vision to life through playful imagery of children at play. “She did an amazing job taking our vision and putting it on the wall,” Remp said. “It was just a simple concept that was able to come to life and put the final touches on our colorful new center.”
Public art continues to play an important role in shaping Wheeling’s identity, offering both residents and visitors welcoming glimpses into the creativity and character of the city. Programs like the Wheeling Heritage Partnership Grants help make those projects possible while encouraging continued investment in the arts and local neighborhoods.
Looking Ahead
Alongside the mural project, King’s Daughters is continuing to look toward the future with plans for additional expansion and improvements. Proposed updates include renovations to the conference room, director’s office, utility and storage spaces, along with the addition of two new classrooms that would allow the center to serve up to 24 more children. Plans also include upgrades to security systems, improved ADA accessibility through the addition of an elevator, enhancements to child drop-off and pick-up areas, expanded employee parking, and the creation of a second cafeteria, additional classroom space and a sensory room.
