Arlington's Historic Preservation Fund Accepting Grant Applications

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County has launched a competitive grant program that will support projects related to Arlington’s history and cultural heritage. The grant application period is now open for the Historic Preservation Fund and closes on April 28.

In December, the Arlington County Board approved the Historic Preservation Fund Grant Guidelines and authorized the county manager to disburse grant funds based on the guidelines.

Historic buildings in Arlington could be maintained and the county’s history and culture could be shared more widely if groups had more access to funds, according to Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz said.

The Historic Preservation Fund could be used to repair those historic buildings, conduct tours of historic neighborhoods, or develop an economic strategic plan for a historic commercial area.

According to Arlington County, the fund will support projects that enhance the understanding of Arlington’s history and historic character; have significant impact on the community and “advance cultural equity” in Arlington; result in distinctive, high quality, and meaningful cultural experiences in Arlington; and preserve the “historic built environment.”

There are two grant categories, and some projects may be eligible for both:

• Capital projects: Eligible properties for bricks-and-mortar grants include individual Local Historic Districts (LHD), contributing properties to an LHD, properties that hold a recorded historic preservation easement, and properties eligible to become an LHD and/or hold a recorded easement.
• Non-capital projects: Examples of eligible projects could include historic research, oral histories, historic markers, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, educational activities, and institutional planning.

A separate grant application will be required for each project proposal. The fund can be used only to support new projects and will not provide reimbursement for previously completed projects or prior expenses.

Grants awarded to capital projects can have a maximum support of up to $100,000 and will require a 100-percent match. Grants awarded to non-capital projects can have a maximum support of up to $25,000. Matching funds will not be required for these non-capital projects.

Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the proposed project, "equity and inclusion," community impact, and managerial competence. Applicants must be at least one of the following:

• A person with a physical property address in Arlington County.
• An institution, community group, or organization that serves Arlingtonians or uses a historic property.
• A civic/citizen and/or homeowner’s association that serves Arlington County.
• A 501(c)(3) organization in Arlington County.

Applicants can schedule an optional pre-submittal consultation with the Historic Preservation Program staff by calling 703-228-3459, or emailing HistoricPreservationFund@arlingtonva.us. Whether applicants choose to have a consultation will not bear any outcome on submitted applications or the awarding of grants.

Individuals and groups can visit the county website to complete their application for a historic preservation grant.

Historic Preservation Program staff and designees of County Manager Schwartz will consider applications and administer the funds. A formal Historic Preservation Fund award letter will be sent to grant recipients by June 30.

Grant recipients must then complete their projects by June 28, 2024.