The Tennessee Historical Commission has awarded 31 grants from the federal Historic Preservation Fund to community and civic organizations for projects that support the preservation of historic and archaeological resources.“Tennessee’s treasured historic places make our state unique and contribute to our quality of life,” said Patrick McIntyre, state historic preservation officer and executive director of the Tennessee Historical Commission. “These grants will help protect the sites for future generations to study and enjoy.”Awarded annually, 60 percent of the project funds are from the federal Historic Preservation Fund and 40 percent of project funds come from the grantee. The Tennessee Historical Commission reviewed 55 applications, with funding requests totaling approximately $1.2 million, nearly double the amount of funding available.This year’s selection includes building and archaeological surveys, design guidelines for historic districts, rehabilitation of historic buildings, posters highlighting the state’s archaeology, and training for historic zoning staff or commissioners.The town of Alexandria received $5,400 to fund the restoration of the National Register listed Seay Chapel and East View Cemetery.“Now that we’ve got the grant, we need to make sure what we do meets the contractual agreements involved,” said Alexandria Mayor Bennett Armstrong.