TRENTON , N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin today announced that the Historic Trust has guidelines and applications available for $10.5 million in matching grants from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Both planning and capital preservation grants are available this year.

“Restored historical sites serve as catalysts for revitalizing our communities,” said Commissioner Levin. “By preserving those parts of our history that have shaped the character of the Garden State, we can better understand and embrace the common ground that we all share.”

Historic Trust Executive Director Barbara Irvine added, “We encourage applicants in 2006 to develop proposals that support the adaptive, alternative uses for historic structures, and address improved public interpretation of historic sites.” 

Eligible properties are listed, or are eligible for listing, in the New Jersey or National Register of Historic Places. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations or units of county or municipal governments. 

Grant applications are now available from the Trust’s web site at www.njht.org or potential applicants can call 609-984-0473 for information. Grant applications are due June 1, 2006. Awards will be announced in November 2006.

The Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund provides two types of grants: 

Historic Site Management Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and require matching funds. The grants may be used to fund the preparation of building studies, construction documents and preservation plans. 

Capital Preservation Grants fund construction and architectural/engineering expenses of preservation, restoration and rehabilitation projects. Level I grants are for smaller construction projects and range from $5,000 to $50,000. Level II grants are for larger projects and range from $50,001 to $750,000. All grants require matching funds.

The Trust also invites potential applicants, professional consultants and project coordinators to attend one of two applicant workshops. A workshop on April 10 will be held at 1 p.m. at the Mt. Laurel campus of Burlington County College. A second workshop is scheduled for April 12 at 10 a.m. at the administrative office of Lincoln Park in Jersey City. Please call 609-984-0473 or visit the Trust’s web site at www.njht.org for the current grant schedule, directions and reservations. 

This is the sixth round of funding under the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Since 1990, the Trust has awarded more than $96 million in matching grants to 454 preservation projects through the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund and other voter-approved ballot initiatives to support farmland, open space and historic preservation.

Established in 1967, the New Jersey Historic Trust is the only nonprofit historic preservation organization in New Jersey created by state law. The Trust officially became a DCA affiliate in November 2002, in an effort to better realign the state’s smart growth initiatives with historic revitalization.