Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission Accepting Grant Applications for Preservation Grant Program, Deadline June 12

(For Immediate Release – Somerset County, NJ): The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is accepting applications for the 2026 Somerset County Historic Preservation Grant Program. This grant supports local history organizations that serve the public and provides funding for the acquisition, restoration, preservation, and planning of historic sites deemed eligible for, or listed on, the New Jersey and / or National Register of Historic Places.

“For the past 27 years, this historic preservation program has supported the rehabilitation and protection of 57 historic sites across Somerset County,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural & Heritage Commission. “Since 1999, nearly $25 million dollars have been granted to organizations and municipalities to keep our local history alive. As we continue to celebrate our Nation’s anniversary in 2026, I’m grateful that residents in Somerset County can still visit the places that shaped our America’s future.”

Potential grant applicants include nonprofits, municipalities, historical societies, and organizations that are responsible for a historic structure or archaeological site. This grant opportunity is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Open Space, Recreation, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

Grant Guidelines

Funding is competitive and will be awarded to organizations that demonstrate managerial competency, fiscal stability, excellence in historic preservation and programming, and the organizational capacity to execute a proposed program or project. Grant funding may be requested for projects in construction or planning that follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation and Standards for Rehabilitation. Special consideration will be given to sites or projects focused on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Semiquincentennial, celebrated this year.

Submission Deadline

Somerset County Historic Preservation Grant applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026. Applications must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, County Administration Building, 20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, New Jersey, 08876.

It is strongly recommended that organizations attend at least one of the two technical assistance workshops that will be hosted virtually on:

• Monday, May 4, 2026, at 6 p.m.
• Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 10 a.m.

To learn about application guidelines and how to register for a free workshop session, visit https://bit.ly/4cBqYbH. For more information, contact the Cultural & Heritage office at (908) 231-7021 or CulturalHeritage@somersetcountynj.gov.

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About Somerset County

The County of Somerset is committed to excellence and innovation in public service, promoting the well-being of all residents and communities by providing effective, efficient, and responsive leadership.

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