Division of Historical Resources
Small Matching Historic Preservation Grants Formal Solicitation for Applications April 1, 2018 – June 1, 2018 for Fiscal Year 2019-2020
The Florida Department of State is soliciting applications for Small Matching Grant-in-Aid assistance for historic preservation projects. Applications will be accepted online at dosgrants.com. The application submission period will open April 1, 2018, and close at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on June 1, 2018. Applications will only be accepted electronically and must be complete to be considered for evaluation.
SMALL MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAM
The purpose of the Small Matching Grants Program is to provide funding to assist local, regional and state-wide efforts to preserve significant historic and archaeological resources, and to promote knowledge and appreciation of the history of Florida. The program does not fund operational support for historic preservation organizations.
Project types include: Survey; Planning; Nominations to the National Register of Historic Places; Education and Publication; Main Street start-up or re-start grants; and state Historical Markers. For questions about project types or the eligibility of a project or work item, please refer to the Small Matching Grant Guidelines.
STATEWIDE PRESERVATION PRIORITIES
Though the Division of Historical Resources will accept applications for all eligible types, this cycle’s priorities are:
Main Street start-up and re-start grants
Projects that support efforts of studying or protecting historic resources at risk.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Eligible Applicant Organizations are either a public entity or an active Florida nonprofit. For questions about eligibility, please refer to the Small Matching Grant Guidelines.
AWARD AMOUNT AND MATCH REQUIREMENTS
Maximum award amount: $50,000 (depending on project type).
Match requirement: 1:1, unless waived as explained below, with a minimum cash match contribution of 25 percent.
Match waiver: Certified Local Governments (CLGs) and Florida Main Street Programs are eligible for match waivers as stipulated in the Small Matching Grant Guidelines. A waiver is also available for projects proposed to be located within REDI-qualified counties or communities at the time of application submission, as stipulated in the Small Matching Grant Guidelines. State agencies, state colleges, or state universities are not eligible for a waiver regardless of project location.
APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS
An Applicant Organization may submit only one (1) Small Matching Grant Application under a single application deadline for a particular application cycle. State agencies, county or city governments, or universities may submit single applications from more than one division or department under a single application cycle provided that those divisions or departments are separate and distinct budgetary units, and provided that applications do not address the same facility, project, property, or site.
CLG applicants may submit separate applications for federal funding and state funding under a single application submission period. When applying for federal funds a CLG applicant shall apply only for Survey, Planning, or National Register Nomination projects; a separate application to compete for state funds may be submitted for either Education and Publication or state Historical Marker projects. No more than a total of two (2) applications, one for federal funding and one for state funding, may be submitted by a CLG under a single application deadline.
APPLICATION REVIEW AND PROJECT SELECTION
Eligible applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis by a Secretary of State appointed Grant Panel in a public meeting. The Grant Panel will review and score applications pursuant to criteria in the Small Matching Grant Guidelines, and recommend to the Secretary of State those applications that should be forwarded to the 2019 Legislature for funding consideration in State Fiscal Year 2020.
The Grant Panel’s recommendation to the Secretary of State will not result in any immediate grant award. The award and level of funding for each Small Matching project will be subject to specific legislative appropriation.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
For projects receiving funding from the 2019 Legislature, funds will become available after July 1, 2019, which is the beginning of the 2019-2020 State Fiscal Year. To receive grant funds, grantees will be required to sign a Grant Award Agreement containing specific administrative responsibilities. Any unexpended balance of grant funds will revert to the state at the end of the 12-month period, on June 30, 2020.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have any questions regarding proposed projects, eligibility, or the online application form, please call the Historic Preservation Grants Program, Division of Historical Resources, at 1(800)847-7278 or (850)245-6333, or email at DHRgrants@dos.myflorida.com.
