National Park Service's (NPS) Underrepresented Community Grant Program (URC) will diversity the nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. URC grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), and are administered by the NPS. Projects include surveys and inventories of historic properties associated with communities underrepresented in the National Register, as well as the development of nominations to the National Register for specific sites
Grant projects must support the survey, inventory, and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among National Historic Landmarks. Successful proposals will emphasize creative projects that promote the preservation of a jurisdiction's diverse cultural resources.
NOTE: Within one year of the completion of the grant, all projects must result in: the submission of a new nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or National Historic Landmark program OR an amendment to an existing National Register or National Historic Landmark nomination to include underrepresented communities.
$750,000 was available in 2020. Previously awarded grantees can be viewed at: https://www.nps.gov/preservation-grants/community-grants.html
Ineligible costs include:
Eligible applicants are limited to: federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Groups, Native Hawaiian Organizations; State Historic Preservation Offices; and Certified Local Governments (which may be county, city, or township governments). Eligible applicants may partner with nonprofits, other local governments, and National Heritage Areas to ensure the broadest inclusion of all communities.
Applications are to be submitted by January 11, 2022. A similar deadline is anticipated annually.
Up to $1,000,000 is available in FY2021. Up to 25 awards ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 each are anticipated. Cost sharing/matching is not required. The project period is 2-3 years.