Federal Grant Award Summary

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs awarded The American Center of Research, Incorporated (ACOR) $410,522 under the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (CFDA 19.025) to conserve the Roman Imperial 2nd-century A.D. western theater at Umm Qais (ancient Gadara) in Jordan. The project, initiated on April 15, 2026, with completion targeted for April 14, 2028, focuses on archaeological site preservation and restoration activities that demonstrate American excellence in cultural heritage preservation. The funding supports ACOR's specialized expertise in archaeological conservation and international scholarly exchange, positioning the project to advance U.S. foreign policy and public diplomacy objectives while protecting significant cultural heritage in the Middle East region.

The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation program supports the preservation of diverse cultural assets overseas across more than 130 eligible countries through conservation, restoration, documentation, and stabilization activities. This award exemplifies the program's mission to increase U.S. favorability, counter false narratives about the United States, and advance diplomatic objectives while demonstrating respect for cultural heritage in recipient nations. ACOR, as an established nonprofit organization with a long history of securing federal funding for archaeological research and cultural heritage protection initiatives, serves as the implementing organization responsible for project execution and completion within the two-year performance period.