The City of Austin Economic Development Department is seeking applications for its Heritage Preservation Grant to promote tourism through historic preservation projects and activities inclusive of all stories rooted in history and heritage.
Donor Name: City of Austin Economic Development Department
State: Texas
County: Travis County (TX), Bastrop County (TX), Caldwell County (TX), Hays County (TX), and Williamson County (TX)
City: Austin
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/22/2023
Size of the Grant: $250,000
Details:
Heritage Preservation Grants are preservation grants for capital, planning, educational, or marketing projects at historically designated sites. Funding for eligible projects is made possible through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) proceeds from Austin’s convention and hotel industries.
Funding Information
- Capital Projects Maximum award: $250,000
- Planning Projects Maximum Award: $30,000
- Educational Projects Maximum award: $250,000
- Marketing Projects Maximum award: $30,000
Eligible Projects
- Capital, planning, educational, and marketing project sites must be historically designated. Properties may be leased or owned with owner authorization.
- In accordance with Texas Tax Code Ch 351, the proposal and application must meet the following two criteria: (1) The use must directly enhance and promote tourism and the hotel industry; (2) For historic preservation and restoration projects, the project must be: (A) at or in the immediate vicinity of convention center facilities or visitor information centers; or (B) located in the areas that are reasonably likely to be frequented by tourists.
- Grounds must be accessible, open, and marketed to tourists with reasonable visitation hours.
- Projects that occur within an Austin City Council District or within Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), located downtown or in areas likely to be visited by tourists.
- Project proposal occurs at a historic designated or eligible site while promoting heritage tourism as its primary purpose.
- Properties listed as historically contributing to a historic district.
- Properties determined to be eligible for historic designation. If a property is not designated at the time of the application, the applicant must provide a determination of eligibility with the application and sites must be historically designated by the end of the grant contract term.
- Projects (Capital) must go before the City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission for historic review and approval. Additionally, the project must be evaluated by the Architectural Review Committee and meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and Local Historic Building Standards.
- Projects that are preservation-related or history-informing and are actively promoted to tourists, hotel guests, and convention delegates.
- Proposals with City-owned sites must submit a Community Activated Park Projects form. An approved City of Austin Parks and Recreation Community Activated Park Project Review Form must be submitted, reviewed, and approved prior to applying for a grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- For-Profit
- Government
- Nonprofit
- Applicants must reside in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which includes Travis, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson Counties. Projects must occur in Austin, Texas.
- Applicants must be registered as a City of Austin Vendor
- Applicants must demonstrate operations in the Austin metro area for at least two years.
- Applicants that are not currently receiving or are applying for funding from the City for the same proposal within the contract period.
Ineligible Applicants
- Applicants whose non-profit status has been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Applicants unable to demonstrate at least two years of operations within the Austin metro area.
- Applicants who are not receiving or requesting funding for the same project from other City-funded programs.
- City of Austin Employees
- Individuals younger than 18 years old
- Individuals who reside outside of the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
- Owner-occupied (residential) stewards or properties.
For more information, visit City of City of Austin.
