Two South Coast libraries and a local historical society were among the nonprofit organizations in Coos and Curry counties that received grants from the Oregon Community Foundation last week.

Port Orford Library Foundation was the biggest beneficiary, garnering $30,000 to help finance the construction of a larger library. The project, which has an estimated construction budget of $1,901,850, got a much more significant shot in the arm May 15, when voters approved a $450,000 bond measure. The library had previously raised close to $1.6 million, with more than $500,000 coming from the local area. According to the library's Web site, construction on the new library is expected to begin in early August.

Coos Bay Public Library Foundation also received $20,000, which will be used to construct a used bookstore and redesign the entrance to main area. The redesign will bring media materials out of storage where they will be directly accessible to browsers. It also will make it possible to install a second express self-checkout machine.

The grant helps match a $60,000 challenge grant from the city of Coos Bay's Urban Renewal Agency.

And lastly, the Coos County Historical Society, based in North Bend, got $7,850 to expand its “Kids to Museum” school program. Anne Donnelly, executive director of the Coos Historical & Maritime Museum, said the ultimate goal of the program is to help local third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders visit the museum annually. As an example, Donnelly noted that fifth-graders could get a better understanding of the economic concept of supply and demand by examining the history of the local timber industry.

These grants were part of OCF's recent distribution of $10.1 million to 627 nonprofits across the state, with $61,850 going to the South Coast.

OCF is a permanent endowment built from funds created by donors who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in their communities. Since its establishment in 1973, OCF and its donors have distributed more than $422 million in grants and scholarships throughout Oregon.

In addition to announcing its grants, the foundation reported that in 2006, donors contributed $76 million to grow OCF's endowment to $900 million in permanent funds.