On Thursday, November 8^, 2002, Joe Green, Richmond Library Director (also in charge of Museum Services) was notified by the Caltrans staff that the California Transportation Commission, at its November 8^th meeting  approved a recommendation to appropriate $1,000,300 to the City of Richmond and the Richmond Museum of History to cover costs related to the restoration of the Red Oak Victory ship, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and, by an act of Congress, is part of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historical Park.

The funds are being made available to the City through the United States Department of Transportation – Transportation Enhancement Grants program. In particular the grant is made as part of the TEA grant historic preservation component. This program is administered by CalTrans with local assistance from the Municipal Transportation Commission.

In April 2001, the Richmond City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City to pursue these grant funds in partnership with the Richmond Museum Association. Special thanks go to Erle Brown from the Association for his tireless efforts in preparing the grant.

The funds should be available in the first quarter of 2003 and will be fully encumbered prior to the close of fiscal year 2002/2003. This is an exciting and surprising development.

This grant will help make the dreams of so many individuals committed to the Red Oak Victory’s restoration as well as the continued development of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront National Historical Park a reality. For more information about the Red Oak Victory, see http://www.redoakvictory.org/.