The New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has approved $16,598,738 in grant recommendations from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. These funds aim to save and promote historic sites across the state. The grants will support 75 projects including preservation planning, municipal, county, and regional planning, heritage tourism, and capital projects.
"Historic preservation is an integral part of community and economic revitalization and I am excited to see a diverse list of grant recipients this year," said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. "From historic homes, farms, schoolhouses, and churches to train stations, lighthouses, and villages, the work that will be accomplished with the preservation grants will help to secure the future of our most treasured historic places in the Garden State."
Among the 75 recommended grants are funds for various preservation planning projects such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, and construction documents. Additionally, two grants will fund Intensive-Level Architectural Surveys and updates to existing Design Guidelines; two others will support heritage tourism initiatives aimed at improving visitor experiences at historic sites. Forty-one grants are designated for capital preservation projects on sites listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. All awarded grants require matching funds from nonprofit organizations or municipal, county or state government entities.
The recommendations include $1.5 million for previously awarded multiyear projects such as Shadow Lawn in Monmouth County and Passaic County Court House in Passaic County.
"I am very pleased that we are able to assist through the Preserve New Jersey Fund so many worthy projects throughout the State of New Jersey," said New Jersey Historic Trust Executive Director Glenn Ceponis. "The projects associated with these historic properties will benefit all New Jerseyans and provide lasting impacts to the communities where these sites are located."
These grant recommendations have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board but still need approval from the Garden State Preservation Trust at its next meeting. They also require a legislative appropriations bill and approval from the Governor before funds can be released.
Funding for this round comes from a voter-approved constitutional amendment that created the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. This fund continues efforts begun by earlier initiatives like the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund which has committed over $200 million to more than 1,000 historic preservation projects since 1990.
Created by state legislation, The New Jersey Historic Trust is a nonprofit organization affiliated with DCA focused on advancing historic preservation through education, stewardship and financial investment programs.
DCA provides a variety of services including local government management and finance assistance; affordable housing production; fire safety; building safety; community planning; disaster recovery; mitigation; historic preservation; information privacy among others.
