Alabama Historical Commission to issue $300K in grants

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Historical Commission has announced its 2018 capital enhancements grant program.

The commission will administer $300,000 in its state-funded grant program in fiscal year 2018, which runs from Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018. The grants are targeted for capital improvements at historic sites throughout Alabama.

The commission will award to historical skills centers, cultural heritage parks, sites, commissions, boards, agencies, authorities, any historic school structure or any publicly owned battlefield or structure. These properties or structures must have been constructed before 1840 and be included on the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition, these entities must reflect an education-based mission, concentrate on educational programming and reflect the geographical diversity of the state. Grant amounts will not exceed $50,000 for any one entity, commission executive director Lisa D. Jones said.

“Through this grant program, the Alabama Historical Commission will stimulate preservation in communities that have received less support in the past,” Jones said. “The goal of the Capital Enhancements Grant Program is to assist historic sites throughout Alabama with improvements, which will help preserve them for future generations.”

Applicants must complete an official 2018 Capital Enhancement Grant application available at ahc.alabama.gov/grants.aspx. Applicants also can find application guidelines and grant legislation on the website.

Individuals must hand-deliver or mail applications to Tryon McLaney, Contracts and Grants, Alabama Historical Commission by Aug. 15. The commission will not accept applications by fax or email.

The commission will announce grant awards on Oct. 2.

Alabama Historical Commission serves as the state’s historic preservation agency. State legislation in 1966 created the agency with a mission to protect and interpret Alabama’s historic places. The commission focuses on preservation and promotion of state-owned sites as public attractions, along with statewide programs to assist people, groups and towns with local preservation activities.

Alabama Historical Commission’s headquarters are located at 468 S. Perry St. in Montgomery. A complete list of programs and properties that the historical commission owns, hours of operation and admission fees are available at ahc.alabama.gov.