Lyon County officials will apply for $650,000 in funding from a Nevada Department of Transportation program to restore the Carson and Colorado Depot in Dayton as a visitors center.
The depot, on the corner of Highway 50 East and Main Street in Dayton, is managed by the Historical Society of Dayton Valley, though it is owned by the county.
Historical society board member Linda Clements of Dayton said the community is united in its desire to restore the building and have already cleared brush from the property and made other basic repairs using volunteer labor.
"You can see the community enthusiasm here," she said. "It shines."
The Lyon County Commission approved seeking the funding at Thursday's meeting.
This would be the second grant from the federal transportation enhancement program administered through NDOT for the depot. Last year the commission obtained a grant to purchase the depot, then turned it over to the Historical Society to manage.
Clements said they were preparing the funding as a follow-up to the previous award that paid for the building.
She said she has been working with the department of transportation to figure out a budget for the project and the wording of the funding agreement.
Clements said the Historical Society requested the full amount of $650,000, that requires a 5 percent match, which she said could be satisfied with in-kind contributions including the county's administering of the monies and the volunteer labor of professionals such as engineers, craftsmen and others.
She added the contribution of unskilled laborers could not be considered part of the $32,500 match.
Commissioner Bob Milz said the county was the sponsor of the funding request and he added that it should be considered the top priority for the program for the 2010 to 2011 funding cycle.
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.