Boulder, Colorado, 11 July, 2005 - Heritage Conservation Network has been awarded a $2,300 grant from the Terence L. Mills Preservation Fund for North and South Carolina in support of its hands-on building conservation workshop to be held at the Francis Mill in Waynesville, North Carolina, July 17-30, 2005.

The focus of the workshop is the repair and restoration of the upper level framing of the mill structure, built in 1887. The grant funds will be used to bring restoration expert Jeffrey Finch of Heritage Restoration Services in Franklin, New York, to the mill to lead the workshop. The grant, awarded through the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Services Fund, was made possible in part by a gift from Mrs. Damon R. Averill of Brevard, North Carolina.

HCN organized the workshop at the request of the Francis Mill Preservation Society, a local nonprofit whose goal is to restore the mill to working order. The Francis Mill is the last remaining grist mill in Haywood County. The 2005 workshop is the second in a planned series of annual workshops at the site.

Heritage Conservation Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of architectural heritage around the world. Through a network of experts, volunteers and community members, the organization aims to increase awareness of the significance of historic sites and foster the appreciation of varied cultures. HCN’s workshops stimulate a community's interest in and knowledge of appropriate conservation skills, helping provide for the long-term preservation of its significant structures and sites.