SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. -- The LaGrange County Tourism Foundation announced it's been awarded a $5,000 grant to fund the “Voices of the First People: Audio History of Chief Shipshewana and the Potawatomi,” a project meant to highlight the prominent Potawatomi leader and tribe who call the region home.

The grant was given by the Indiana Arts Commission’s America250 initiative, a one-time program made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Indiana General Assembly.

The project will include the creation of a narrated audio experience next to the Chief Shipshewana memorial at the intersection of C.R. N 900 W and C.R. N 905 W.

The audio guide is meant to create an engaging and educational experience for visitors, residents, and history enthusiasts.

The $5,000 grant is part of a larger $60,000 grant supporting arts projects throughout Indiana.

Officials say over 100 organizations applied for the grant and 12, including the LaGrange County Tourism Foundation, were selected.

“We are honored to be selected for this highly competitive program and grateful to the Indiana Arts Commission for recognizing the importance of sharing the story of Chief Shipshewana and the Potawatomi people,” said Sonya Nash, CEO of the Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Today’s visitors are looking for deeper connections to the places they love, and this project allows us to bring that history to life in an authentic and meaningful way.”