Earlier this year, the Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board (USHRAB) introduced a new micro-grant program that provides up to $500 for individuals to engage in archives-related professional development opportunities, such as conference attendance, workshops, and courses. This grant is open year-round to Utah residents. Visit our website for more information.

The first recipient of the Professional Development Micro-Grant was Courtney Cochley, curator of the Hyrum City Museum. Cochley used USHRAB micro-grant funds to attend this year’s Annual CIMA Conference in Reno, NV.

Courtney submitted a reflection essay where she shared about her experience at the CIMA Conference:

I am honored to have received a USHRAB Professional Development Micro-grant to attend the Conference of Intermountain Archivists (CIMA) Annual Conference in Reno last month! I am the Curator at the Hyrum City Museum and am the sole steward of our collection. I relished the opportunity to learn from colleagues at larger archival institutions, as well as smaller organizations and even other museums, to enhance my understanding of archival best practices and how to make our collections more accessible to the public. Every aspect of attending CIMA in-person enhanced my professional knowledge. From attending educational sessions and insightful tours, to simply networking with colleagues from across the region, I returned to Utah with plenty of inspiration to work with my museum’s collection.