COLUMBIA, Pa. — The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) received another boost from Columbia Borough Council on Tuesday night as officials approved agreements tied to a $500,000 state grant package that will support significant improvements at the organization’s museum campus.
Representatives from GMS Funding Solutions attended the meeting to explain the project and outline the borough’s role in helping secure state funding for the museum. The funding comes through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a grant initiative frequently used for major community improvement projects.
According to presenters, the NAWCC was awarded an additional $250,000 in state funding earlier this year, building upon a previous $250,000 RACP award received in 2023. Combined, those grants now provide a total of $500,000 for planned museum improvements.
The museum intends to use the funding for several projects aimed at preserving and enhancing its campus, including:
- HVAC system upgrades.
- Parking lot improvements.
- Landscaping enhancements.
- Exterior facade improvements.
- General infrastructure upgrades.
The NAWCC Museum is one of Columbia’s most recognizable institutions and attracts visitors from around the country who are interested in horology, the study and collection of clocks and watches. Borough officials have long partnered with the museum on grant applications, helping it secure state funding for preservation and improvement projects.
During the presentation, GMS representatives explained that the borough serves an important administrative role in the process because state grant programs require a public entity to act as the official applicant and grantee. Columbia has traditionally filled that role for the museum, allowing the organization to pursue grant opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable.
“The borough’s role in this process is that RACP requires a public applicant and grantee,” presenters explained. “Columbia Borough has traditionally supported the museum through that process.”
The partnership extends beyond RACP funding. Officials noted that Columbia has also worked with the museum on Local Share Account grants and other economic development initiatives over the years.
Council members expressed support for the project during the discussion. One council member jokingly suggested that the museum’s historic clock tower should also be repaired so that the clock works properly, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
Following the presentation, council approved a cooperation agreement between the borough and the museum organization as well as a resolution authorizing continued participation in the grant process. Both measures passed without significant opposition.
Officials said the improvements are expected to strengthen one of Columbia’s premier cultural attractions while helping maintain a facility that contributes to tourism and economic activity within the borough.
The museum project was one of several routine business items approved during the meeting, but it also represented one of the evening’s larger financial investments. With a combined $500,000 now secured through state funding, the NAWCC is poised to move forward with a series of upgrades designed to improve both the visitor experience and the long-term sustainability of its Columbia campus.
For borough officials, the project serves as another example of how partnerships between local government and nonprofit institutions can bring outside investment into the community without placing the full financial burden on local taxpayers.
