Heritage Preservation Grant - 2025
The City of Austin Heritage Tourism Division manages the Heritage Preservation Grant which serves to promote tourism through historic preservation and inclusive projects that represent Austin’s history.
The grants support capital, planning, experiential education, or marketing projects at historically designated sites that celebrate and preserve Austin’s diverse history while engaging new audiences and tourists.
Project proposals must serve to preserve the exterior of a historic site and/or clearly promote Austin’s history and heritage (heritage tourism) of the site to tourists as its primary purpose.
Application closes on October 8 at 7 p.m.
Applications can be saved throughout the application period but must be submitted by 7:00 p.m. CST on October 8.
Before Applying:
- Review the Heritage Preservation Grant Guidelines
- Register and create a City of Austin Vendor Account
- Use the Heritage Preservation Grant Application Fillable Templates to draft responses.
- NOTE: If your application is successfully reviewed and awarded, contracts at or below the City Manager's spending authority (beginning at $74,000 in FY24) will be issued and paid first.
Access Resources to Support your Heritage Preservation Grant Application:
- Access the Heritage Preservation Grant Research Resources site for helpful historic research links to support your application;
- RSVP to attend an upcoming Heritage Preservation Grant Awareness Workshop (Virtual, In-Person, and Spanish Translation Available)
- View pre-recorded Heritage Preservation Grant Awareness Workshop Videos in English and Spanish
- Participate in Virtual Open Office Hours, the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CST
- Join Virtual Open Office Hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST on October 8, 2024.
- Contact the Heritage Tourism Division for program, guidelines, timeline, or eligibility questions at heritagetourism@austintexas.gov
If you require Technical Assistance on your Application you can:
- Si necesita asistencia o interpretación en español, póngase en contacto con The Long Center en applicationhelp@thelongcenter.org. Haga clic aquí para acceder a la solicitud Subvención para la Preservación del Patrimonio - 2025
- For technical help with submitting your application, reach out to The Long Center’s Community Programs Team at applicationhelp@thelongcenter.org or view the Submittable Applicant and Technical Assistance Guide.
- For general questions about your application, eligibility, timeline, or direct application support, Heritage Preservation Grant website.
The Following Documents Will Be Required Before You Submit Your Application
- Historic Designation Documentation or approved Historic Designation Determination of Eligibility from the City of Austin Historic Preservation Office, the Texas Historical Commission or the National Park Service. (Historic marker documentation only does not meet the eligibility requirement);
- Historic Property Site Records which may include historic photographs, records related to the date of construction, historic maps or plans, overview of the property including physical changes, biographies of related significant persons, information on the architect or other documentation, or research that provides further background on the historic site;
- Owner Authorization Form signed by the non-residential historic property owner. Download and have the Owner Authorization Form signed, then upload it as an attachment; OR
- (If applicable) A Community Activated Park Project (CAPP) Review Form must be approved by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department if the project occurs on historic designated City-owned parkland and the proposal meets the CAPP guidelines.
- Demonstrated two years of operating experience in Austin. May include screenshots of marketing materials promoting the historic location;
- Detailed and thorough project bid proposals from each outside contractor, subcontractor and/or vendor. For capital and planning projects, the bids should detail how the proposed work meets the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
For Frequently Asked Questions, visit the City of Austin Heritage Tourism Division’s Heritage Preservation Grant site.