UpdatedWed, July 22, 2026 at 2:05 PM UTC
BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS) — The Bluefield Arts Revitalization Corporation (BARC) was awarded grant funding to support a rehabilitation project.
According to a press release, BARC was awarded approximately $100,000 in grant funding from the African America Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The money will go towards the rehabilitation of the commercial space that was previously home to Thelma’s Cafe.
We are grateful to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund for its support of theredevelopment of the Hotel Thelma. BARC and its development partner, the Hotel Thelma Project Corporation, are dedicated to restoring not just the Hotel Thelma building but also the legacy of African American achievement and resilience in Bluefield. This award recognizes the significant contributions of African Americans to the history of southern West Virginia.
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Historic places help us understand who we are as a nation. These grants are investments in communities that are preserving the full American story –from the struggles for freedom and civil rights to the achievements of Black educators, architects, entrepreneurs, faith leaders, and culture bearers. By supporting local stewards and communities, we are helping ensure these stories endure for generations to come.
Brent Leggs | President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation and founder of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The strength of the National Grant Program and Conserving Black Modernism Initiative is their ability to meet communities where they are and provide support that responds to their unique preservation needs. This year’s grantees represent every corner of the country and demonstrate that preserving Black history requires sustained investment, local leadership, and strong partnerships. We are honored to stand alongside these organizations as they protect places that continue to shape our nation’s cultural landscape.
Tiffany Tolbert | Co-Director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is the biggest U.S. re$200 million for their efforts. The Hotel Thelma is one of 27 places chosen in 2026, and the only one in the Mountain State, to get $3 million in support of preservation activities for historic places, buildings, and landscapes that play a part in representing Black cultural heritage, the release stated
For more information regarding the Bluefield Arts and Revitalization Corporation and their other programs, events and projects, visit their website.
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