Somerset County Awards $63,750 In 2025 To Local History Organizations

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — In 2025, a total of $63,750 in grant funds were awarded to seven organizations in Somerset County through the County History Partnership Program (CHPP).

The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is currently accepting applications for the 2026 CHPP grant round. Applications for 2026 CHPP grants must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

The CHPP grant, which is funded through a partnership between the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the New Jersey Historical Commission, supports local history organizations that provide New Jersey-based history programming, services, and education about Somerset County for its residents.

“Since 2015, this grant has enabled local organizations to preserve the history of Somerset County through educational programs, exhibits, community events, and family-friendly activities that explore the County’s past,” said Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. “The CHPP grant also supports the maintenance of our historic sites and landmarks, which bring history to life through immersive experiences and live tours led by trained history docents. In 2026, these programs will play a major role in helping residents celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.”

Learn More About The 2025 CHPP Grant Recipients

Friends of the Abraham Staats House, located in South Bound Brook, were awarded $8,260 to support annual programming in preparation for the upcoming 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Learn more here: staatshouse.org.

Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, located in Bedminster, were awarded $20,415 to support the organization’s educational programming, outreach efforts, and administrative costs. Learn more here: jvanderveerhouse.org.

Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, located in Bernards, were awarded $8,330 to develop a series of videos about the historic significance of the Farmstead and the County’s connection to the Revolutionary War. Learn more here: farmsteadarts.org.

Heritage Trail Association, located in Bridgewater, was awarded $13,245 to support annual Revolutionary War-themed programming, events, educational materials, and new activities. Learn more here: heritagetrail.org.

The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, located in Bernards, was awarded $2,000 to support a speaker panel dedicated to the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail’s relation to the trail in the Somerset Hills. Learn more here: somersethillshistoricalsociety.org.

Ukrainian History and Education Center, located in Franklin, was awarded $6,000 to aid ongoing research into the history of Ukrainian immigrant communities in New Jersey, which will serve as a publicly accessible resource. Learn more here: ukrhec.org.

Van Harlingen Historical Society of Montgomery, located in Montgomery, was awarded $5,500 to support the historic Dirck Gulick House’s general operations and enhance local history programming. Learn more here: vanharlingen.org.

2026 CHPP Grant Applications

To learn more about applying for the 2026 CHPP grant, visit: County History Partnership Program Grant | Somerset County. For more information, contact the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission office at (908) 231-7021 or CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us.

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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.

This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.