New Jersey Historic Trust Announces Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund Grants

  • Posted on: 01/05/2022

Application Period Open for $10M in Preservation Planning, Heritage Tourism, and Capital Grant Funding

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Historic Trust (the Trust) today announced that the applications for the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund grants are now available. Applications must be submitted by April 14, 2022.

This year, the Trust has committed to awarding $10 million in Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation funds and will offer both planning and heritage tourism (Historic Site Management) grants and ‘bricks and mortar’ (Capital Preservation) grants. Eligible applicants are 501c non-profit organizations, as well as units of county, municipal or state government. Properties must be certified eligible for listing on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places by August 1, 2022 to be eligible to receive funds.“Continuing to fund the preservation and restoration of historic places through these grants is essential to community and economic development in New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). “Despite the ongoing challenges the pandemic has presented, Governor Murphy and I remain committed to supporting this important work to promote heritage tourism and save our historic cultural and educational places throughout the State.”

“Being able to help so many of New Jersey’s treasured historic resources is very rewarding,” said New Jersey Historic Trust Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. “We are looking forwarding to working with the new applicants.”

Planning grants may be used for activities that will assist in planning for the long-term stewardship, development, and successful management of historic sites, including developing preservation plans, engineering studies or archaeological assessments. The Trust is also offering grants to foster heritage tourism initiatives that may include visitor readiness surveys, wayfinding, and developing linkages between attractions. New for this year, the maximum grant request has been raised from $50,000 to $75,000. The matching grant requires a $1 match for every $3 requested.

Capital preservation grants may be used for construction expenses related to the preservation, restoration, repair, and rehabilitation of historic property and professional fees necessary to prepare and complete the construction project. There are two levels of capital request. At Level I, the maximum request is $150,000 and requires a match of $2 for every $3 requested. At Level II, the maximum request is $750,000 and requires a match of $1 for every $1 requested. All construction projects should be supported by previous investigations, such as preservation plans or assessments.

The Trust will again offer applicants the opportunity to apply for a multi-phase project to facilitate funding for substantially complex projects. In this category, the Trust may commit to up to three years of funding at the $750,000 level, assuming all other requirements have been met.

Applications and guidelines are available on the Trust’s website: https://www.nj.gov/dca/njht/programs/preservenj/overview/

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Grant Guidelines to determine if the proposed project is eligible for funding. Staff is available to answer questions at 609-984-0473 or njht@dca.nj.gov.

The Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund was established by legislation in 2016 after New Jersey voters approved a change to the state constitution to provide a stable source of funding for open space, farmland, and historic preservation by dedicating funds from the corporate business tax.

The Preserve New Jersey Fund continues the work of the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund (2000-2012) and the Historic Preservation Bond Program (1990-1997). Since 1990, more than $156 million in matching grants has been awarded to worthy historic preservation construction and planning projects throughout the state.

Created by the State Legislature, the New Jersey Historic Trust is a nonprofit historic preservation organization affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs. Governed by a 15-member board of trustees, the mission of the Trust is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save New Jersey’s heritage and strengthen its communities.

The DCA offers a wide range of programs and services, including local government management and finance, affordable housing production, fire safety, building safety, community planning and development, and disaster recovery and mitigation.

For more information about DCA, visit https://nj.gov/dca/ or follow the Department on social media: 

   DCa on Twitter

         

Contact:

DCA:
Lisa Ryan,
Gina Trish,
Tammori Petty
ph#: 609-292-6055