In sum, the Laurel Highland’s Historical Village is an idea whose time has come for fruition in Western Pennsylvania.  

                                         GRANT REQUEST

            To enable further planning of the Laurel Highland’s Historical Village concept, the organization is seeking a grant of $00,000 from the Pittsburgh National Bank.  This grant will be used for to pay for a planning consultant, who, working with the Village’s Board of Directors, will help develop a physical and infrastructure plan for the Village and for hiring a consultant to assist the Board in developing a Business Plan to guide financial decisions, for determining the Village’s capital fund development needs, and future marketing in order to ensure the long term sustainability of the Village as a viable enterprise. 

                                                 Articles Of  Incorporation

I. The name of this corporation shall be Laurel Highlands Historical Village, Incorporated.

II. This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.  The purposes for which this corporation is formed include:
 (a) Research and education in the field of pre-17th century history and culture.
 (b) To construct and operate a replica historical village of pre-17th century nature to serve as a living history settlement and educational center.
 (c) Generally, to engage in research; publish material of relevance and interest to the field of pre-17th century history and culture; to present activities and events which  re-create the environment of said era, such as, but not limited to, tournaments,  jousts, fairs, dances, classes, et cetera; to acquire authentic or reproduced replicas of chattels representative of said era; and to collect and maintain a library.

(d) This corporation shall have and exercise all rights and powers conferred upon nonprofit corporations under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, provided that all activities shall be incidental to and in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in II a., c., and b, above.
 
III. In accordance with the provisions of § 41.4 amended under section 506 of The  Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 186); and the Associations Code, 15 Pa. C.S. §  133 Corporations Code, this corporation elects to be governed by all of the provisions of the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law.
 
IV. This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), or (2) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor shall this corporation participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of  statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.
 

V. The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the corporation, its assets remaining after  payment, or  provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under  Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

January 26, 2005

ATT: RON SHAWLEY

Laurel Highland’s Historical Village 172 Allbaugh Park Road, Johnstown, PA 15905

Dear RON SHAWLEY:

The Department has approved your organization's application as an Institution of Purely Public Charity. This approval is effective from 8/20/2004 the date the department received a completed application. The sales and use tax exemption is limited to the purchase made on behalf of the institution's charitable purpose.  The exemption given to your institution is limited and does not apply to:

(a.)  The purchase of materials, supplies or equipment used in the construction, reconstruction, renovation , remodeling or repair of a real estate structures and equipment used in the maintenance of a real estate structure, except materials, supplies and equipment that qualify as “ building machinery and equipment” pursuant to Act 45 of 1 U98:

(b) the purchase by a member officer or leader of the institution;

(c) Charges subject to the hotel or mall occupancy tax;

(d) Purchases by the institution acting as a collection agene for its membership;

{e} Purchase for property real or persona’s, that is not used in furtherance of  the charitable purpose.