Legislators pitch funding grants for museum and log cabin

The owner of a log cabin, along with a county genealogical society, could receive $600,000 from the 2027 state budget thanks to two legislative earmark requests.

Reps. Jerry Neyer, R-Shepard, and Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown Township, requested the funding for two local historical projects.

Neyer requested $500,000 for the Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society in Alma. Thompson requested $100,000 for the city of Taylor’s Heritage Park Log Cabin.

Neyer’s request seeks funding to restore the Ammi Wright Home and turn it into a local museum to support education, tourism, workforce exposure and historic preservation. According to the representative’s request, the money would be used for students’ educational learning experience.

The request states that the historical society has received $1 million in private and foundation investment.

It also received a $50,000 America 250 MI grant, $25,535 from the Gratiot County Community Foundation, and a total of $25,000 from United Way of Gratiot County in 2024 and 2025.

Neyer did not respond to a request for comment.

LDSI Rep. Jerry Neyer Gratiot County Historical & Genealogical Society by mcclallen

Thompson is seeking $100,000 for Taylor’s city-owned Heritage Park Log Cabin, which is the oldest existing home in the area.

State funds would be used to pay a contractor to complete chinking the cabin as well as “a return recheck in Spring 2026 with application of borate spray for insects,” according to Thompson’s request.

“This item previously received $100,000 from the State of Michigan, work began but the money was not disbursed at the time that the funding was not renewed in December 2025,” Thompson stated in her request.

Thompson defended the request when asked for comment. “Requests like ones I have made – whether it be a new ladder truck or police vehicle to keep residents safe, essential infrastructure upgrades like municipal water connections, or work to preserve a historic element of one of our communities – have a broad impact and directly serve the public with public dollars,” Thompson said in an email to Michigan Capitol Confidential. She said the request should enjoy broad support.

The project, if funded, would be completed by spring 2026, according to the spending request.

LDSI Rep. Jamie Thompson Taylor Historical Society by mcclallen

A case before the Michigan Court of Claims, however, could jeopardize funding for these and other legislative earmarks.

In May, the Michigan Court of Claims granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy over two legislative spending requests.

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation sued the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity in May 2025 over grants it awarded for two baseball stadiums.

Under the Michigan Constitution, grants for local and private projects require a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. The court blocked further funding for the two stadiums pending its final decision in the case.

The court exempted certain earmark requests, such as highway funding and cultural institutions.

The city of Taylor did not respond to a request for comment.