DCA and NJ Historic Trust Announce

New Grant Rounds for Historic Preservation

Grants Available to Help Organizations
Repair, Preserve and Use Historic Resources


 

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable III today announced the opening of two new historic preservation grant rounds. The grants are available for eligible organizations that seek to repair, preserve and actively use historic buildings and resources. Guidelines and applications are now posted on the website of the New Jersey Historic Trust, a DCA affiliated agency, at www.njht.org.

"Since the Historic Trust was created 40 years ago, hundreds of historically significant buildings having been restored with the millions of dollars invested in these worthy projects. But there is still considerable historic preservation work to be done," said Acting Commissioner Constable. "These new grant rounds provide much needed financial resources for the stewardship of even more historic properties around the state."

The first grant round is in partnership with the New Jersey Cultural Trust Capital Preservation Grant Program. It will provide grants of up to $50,000 for repair, restoration, stabilization, and improvements at historic sites that are listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. Organizations must be qualified with the Cultural Trust in advance of submitting their application. Letters of intent to apply are due March 29, 2012, and complete applications are due April 26, 2012. Organizations can contact the Cultural Trust for information at http://nj.gov/state/culturaltrust/index.html.  

The second grant round is in partnership with the 1772 Foundation Capital Grant Program. It will provide matching grants up to $15,000 to nonprofit organizations that own or manage historic sites in need of exterior repairs. Roof, window, and chimney repairs are eligible activities, as are painting, structural foundation restoration and work on fire, security, and lightening detection systems. Letters of inquiry are due to the Historic Trust by April 1, 2012. Not all letters of inquiry will result in an invitation to submit a full application. More information can be found at www.1772foundation.org.

"The Historic Trust is delighted to work in cooperation with these two fine organizations to award grants to worthy historic preservation projects," said Chris Perks, chair of the Historic Trust Board of Trustees. "The Historic Trust's continuing relationship with the Cultural Trust has resulted in more than $1.3 million awarded to 47 projects since 2004.  Last year, our work with the 1772 Foundation helped 15 organizations fund the preservation of their historic resources."

This year the Historic Trust is also launching a new initiative to provide small grants of up to $3,000 for projects that support heritage tourism. The Discover NJ History License Plate Fund for Heritage Tourism is available to municipalities, counties and nonprofit organizations. These technical assistance grants may be used to promote interpretation, marketing and linkages among heritage sites; to assess the visitor-readiness of a historic site or sites; to establish performance evaluation systems; and to provide training initiatives, workshops and educational activities that foster the goals and objectives of the 2010 NJ Heritage Tourism Plan.

Established in 1967, the New Jersey Historic Trust is the only nonprofit historic preservation organization in New Jersey created by state law. Its mission is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save our heritage and strengthen our communities. Since 1990, it has awarded more than $134 million in matching preservation grants to sites in every county of the state.

For more information on the New Jersey Historic Trust and the grant rounds, call 609-984-0473, or visit the Applications and Guidelines section of http://www.njht.org/.


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