Somerset County Awards History and Art Organizations Over $280,000 in Grants to Fund Special Projects, Programs, and Services

(For Immediate Release – Somerset County, NJ): Twenty-seven organizations in Somerset County were awarded a total of $283,450 in 2026 through the County History Partnership Program (CHPP) and Local Arts Program (LAP).

Made possible by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, the LAP Grant is funded through a partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, while the CHPP Grant is funded through a partnership with the New Jersey Historical Commission. Together, they provide essential grant funds to local art and history organizations to support a variety of special projects, educational programming, and community events – bringing meaningful arts and history experiences to Somerset County residents.

“Since 2022, our grant programs have funded over $1.3 million to support the organizations that keep history alive and our art scene thriving in Somerset County,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. “These grants keep the doors open at the County’s cultural and historic sites and help to pay for operating expenses, public events, and the development of new projects."

This year, eighteen local organizations were awarded funding through the LAP Grant, while nine organizations received support from the CHPP Grant, empowering a wide range of arts and history initiatives across Somerset County. All grants were awarded by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners.

The full list of re-grantees for 2026, which includes a description of their projects, total grant award, and links to their websites, can be found by visiting the links below:

• LAP Re-grantees –https://www.somersetcountynj.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/65482/639122926831830000.
• CHPP Re-grantees – https://www.somersetcountynj.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/65480/639122926828970000.

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is the official agency designated in the county to apply for, receive, and administer the Local Arts Program Grant and the County History Partnership Program. The grant applications are approved through an independent panel of peers who evaluate and provide recommendations for the allocation of funding.

For more information, call (908) 231-7021 or email CulturalHeritage@somersetcountynj.gov.

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