Heritage Preservation Grant

Assistance

• ATTEND Virtual Open Office Hours every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• SCHEDULE An In-Person Site-Visit or a Virtual Meeting to discuss a potential future proposal.
• RSVP for an upcoming Heritage Preservation Grant Awareness Workshop.
• TECH SUPPORT (in English and Spanish) will be available when application launches.

Heritage Preservation Grant Guidelines

Available in English and Spanish

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

• For-Profit  
• Government 
• Nonprofit (with 990s posted to Guidestar.org) 
• Applicants must be registered as a City of Austin Vendor 
• Applicants must demonstrate two years of operating experience in Austin. Screenshots of marketing materials promoting the historic location will be required. 
• Applicants that are not currently receiving or are applying for funding from another Hotel Occupancy Tax-funded City of Austin program for the same proposal, same activities, and/or expenses within the contract period. 

Ineligible Applicants

• Applicants whose non-profit status has been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service. 
• Applicants unable to demonstrate at least two years of operations within the Austin metro area. 
• Applicants who are receiving or requesting funding from another Hotel Occupancy Tax-funded City of Austin program for the same proposal, same activities, and/or expenses within the contract period.  
• City of Austin Employees . 
• Individuals younger than 18 years old .
• Owner-occupied (residential) stewards or properties. 

Application Preview

Preview the Heritage Preservation Grant guide and questions to prepare for the online application submission. 

Organization / Business Information (not scored)

• What is the legal name of your business or organization?
• What is the mailing address and phone number of the business or organization applying for the Heritage Preservation Grant?
• What is the organization's Employer/Tax Identification Number (EIN/TIN)? If you do not have one or do not want to provide it, please enter Nine (9) Zeros.
• What is the business or organization's registered City of Austin Vendor number?
• If you are not yet a registered vendor, learn how to register as a vendor with the City of Austin before continuing this application.
• Authorizing Official's Name, Title, Organization or Business Name, Email, Phone Number and Vendor Number (if different from above)
• Project Contact Name, Title, Email and Phone Number

 

Organization / Business Physical Address (not scored)

• Which City of Austin Council District is your historic site (project proposal) located in? To determine, visit the Austin City Council District Map and enter the historic project site address to find the Council District. 

 

Organization / Business Details (not scored)

• What year did your business or organization begin operations?
• How many permanent employees (full-time and part-time) does your business have? If you don't have any employees, please put (0) Zero.
• How many contract or seasonal employees full-time or part-time) does your business have? If you do not have any, please put (0) Zero.
• How many volunteers does your organization or business have? If you do not have any volunteers, please put (0) Zero.

 

Organization / Business Demographics (not scored)

Please list the number of leaders for each demographic group. This would include individuals who lead, manage, and control the day-to-day operations of the non-profit organization or business. Your privacy is important, and this information will be kept confidential. Answers will not be scored or viewed by reviewers.

Board / Leadership (Non-Profit) or Owner (For-Profit) Representation by Race or Ethnicity:

• Asian
• Black or African American
• Hispanic or Latino
• Middle Eastern, Arab, or North African
• Native American or Alaska Native
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Multi-Race or Ethnicity (minimum of two different options from above)
• White 
• Race or Ethnicity Not Listed
• Prefer not to answer

Board / Leadership (Non-Profit) or Owner (For-Profit) Representation by Gender:

• Female
• Male
• Non-Binary
• Gender: Prefer not to answer 

Board / Leadership (Non-Profit) or Owner (For-Profit) Representation by Gender:

• LGBTQIA+ 
• Disability 

 

Economic Situation (not scored)

Your privacy is important, and this information will be kept confidential. Answers will not be scored or viewed by reviewers.

• If your business or organization has a physical location, how often has your organization or business moved due to economic hardship?
• How long has the business or organization been banking with a financial institution?

 

Heritage Preservation Grant Application (scored sections) 

 

Heritage Preservation Grant

• Amount Requested

 

Project Information

• (Historic) Project Name
• Project Contact Person
• Project Contact Email
• Project Contact Phone
• Project CEO / Executive Director
• Project CEO / Executive Director Phone
• Project CEO / Executive Director Email
• Heritage tourism proposals must be located at a historically designated site within a City of Austin Council District or Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)
• Historic Project Site: Address
• Historic Project Site Austin City Council District
• What type of historic designation does the project site have? (Note: historic residential properties are ineligible to apply)

 

Project Description

• Project Title (Example: 'Historic Property Name_Brief Project Description')
• Brief Project Description
• Select the Project Affiliation with the Project Location: Owner, Lease-Agreement, Proposed Collaboration on a City-Owned Site, or Proposed Collaboration on a Non-City Owned Site
• Select the  Project Category: Capital, Planning, Educational, or Marketing
• Do liens exist against the historic property?

 

Preservation Impact

• Describe the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the historic site. Provide a brief description of construction, historic and current use, and social importance.
• Provide a clear description of the preservation-related work and how the funds will be used. Clearly describe how the proposed work is tied to project bids. Indicate how the site's history will be shared with tourists as part of the proposal. The description should coincide with the project bids submitted.  
• Is the property, site, or collection currently threatened or endangered by damage or destruction? If yes, describe the property,site, or collection, explaining existing conditions and threats. Describe how the project addresses the Secretary of Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties. For non-capital projects (planning, educational, or marketing), how does the project represent underrepresented stories by preservation education or a diverse property and/or preservation issue? 
• State Long-Range Goals for the preservation of the property, include its current condition and why the proposal is being prioritized. (Capital and Planning Proposals only)
• How does the project demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion of historically underserved and underrepresented communities through programming, marketing, administration, or other means (Educational and Marketing proposals only)

 

Accessibility and Impact

• Was the historic project site a recipient of the Heritage Preservation Grant last year?
• Does the project include community collaborators? If yes, how will the partnership reflect community voice, values, and participation in the tourism-centered proposal to help increase and diversify audience and tourism participation? 
• Does the project demonstrate a lack of access to preservation-related technical services or professional development?
• Is the historically designated project site listed as eligible for a historic designation in the East Austin Historic Survey
• Describe the specialized accommodations and/or programming for individuals with disabilities that you intend to provide at your historic project site or with your proposed activities.

 

Project Management, Project Budget, and Project Bids

• Describe the project management team viability: Who will plan, administer, implement, and manage your project? Cite the biography, relevant qualifications, skills, and website of the project manager and team (include project partners, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors). Include resumes and bios.
• Describe similar projects the project manager and team (including contractor, subcontractor, and/or vendors) have completed.
• Complete a project budget with project costs and descriptions of services provided by contractors, subcontractors, and/or vendors that correspond with submitted project bids.
• Does the proposal include detailed and thorough bid proposals from each outside contractor, subcontractor, and/or vendor? (For Capital and Planning Projects: consultant bids and cost estimates should include proposed materials and how the proposal meets the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. If a secondary bid is unavailable, please explain why.)

 

Tourism Impact

• How will stories related to the site's history be represented and marketed to draw tourists to Austin?
• Describe the marketing and advertising plan strategies to promote the historic site, project, and its history. Describe the methods to attract new and diverse audiences, tourists, and hotel and convention guests, of different backgrounds locally, regionally, and nationally to celebrate Austin’s complete history and heritage.
• How will the success of the tourism marketing strategies be measured annually?

Application Documentation and Uploads

Applicants must upload the following documentation to fulfill the requirements of the application:

• Historic Designation Documentation or 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 does not necessarily meet the eligibility requirement. 
• Historic Property Site Records or Documentation: May include historic photographs, records related to the date of construction, historic maps or plans, an 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 and supports the proposal. Access links to historic research resources here.
• Owner Authorization Form: The form must be completed and signed by the non-residential historic parcel owner, then uploaded as an attachment with your application - OR - 
• Community Activated Park Project Review Form: For eligible projects that occur on city-owned historic parkland, CAPP Forms must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the Parks Department. Project proposals must meet meet CAPP Guidelines. 
• Complete and Detailed Project Bids from outside contractors, subcontractors, and/or vendors for each project activity. Outside project bids and cost estimates are required and must be uploaded as a single PDF with the application. For Capital and Planning Projects, project bids and cost estimates should include proposed materials and how the proposal meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Projects without project bids will not be considered.
• Demonstrated proof of two years of relevant project operating experience in Austin. Documentation must demonstrate at least two years of active programming and promotions of the historic site, including but not limited to, press clippings, marketing materials, and purchased advertising.

Application Scoring Matrix

Category	Criteria	Available Points
Preservation Impact	Describe the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the historic site. Provide a brief description of construction, historic and current use, and social importance. Provide a clear description of the preservation-related work and how the funds will be used. (For education and marketing projects, indicate how the project promotes the historic place).  Provide a clear description of the preservation-related work and how the funds will be used. Clearly describe how the proposed work is tied to project bids. Indicate how the site's history will be shared with tourists as part of the proposal. The description should coincide with the project bids submitted.  Is the property, site, or collection currently threatened or endangered by damage or destruction? If yes, describe the property,site, or collection, explaining existing conditions and threats. Describe how the project addresses the Secretary of Interior's Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties. For non-capital projects (planning, educational, or marketing), how does the project represent underrepresented stories by preservation education or a diverse property and/or preservation issue? State Long-Range Goals for the preservation of the property, include its current condition and why the proposal is being prioritized. (Capital and Planning Proposals only) How does the project demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion of historically underserved and underrepresented communities through programming, marketing, administration, or other means (Educational and Marketing proposals only)	Up to 36 Points
Tourism Impact	How will stories related to the site's history be represented and marketed to draw tourists to Austin? Describe the marketing and advertising plan strategies to promote the historic site, project, and its history. Describe the methods to attract new and diverse audiences, tourists, and hotel and convention guests, of different backgrounds locally, regionally, and nationally to celebrate Austin’s complete history and heritage. How will the success of the tourism marketing strategies be measured annually?	Up to 24 Points
Accessibility and Impact	Was the historic project site a recipient of the Heritage Preservation Grant last year? Does the project include community collaborators? If yes, how will the partnership reflect community voice, values, and participation in the tourism-centered proposal to help increase and diversify audience and tourism participation? Does the project demonstrate a lack of access to preservation-related technical services or professional development? Is the historically designated project site listed as eligible for a historic designation in the East Austin Historic Survey Describe the specialized accommodations and/or programming for individuals with disabilities that you intend to provide at your historic project site or with your proposed activities.	Up to 20 Points
Project Management, Project Budget, and Projects Bids	Describe the project management team viability: Who will plan, administer, implement, and manage your project? Cite the biography, relevant qualifications, skills, and website of the project manager and team (include project partners, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors). Include resumes and bios. Describe similar projects the project manager and team (including contractor, subcontractor, and/or vendors) have completed. Complete a project budget with project costs and descriptions of services provided by contractors, subcontractors, and/or vendors that correspond with submitted project bids. Does the proposal include detailed and thorough bid proposals from each outside contractor, subcontractor, and/or vendor? (For Capital and Planning Projects: consultant bids and cost estimates should include proposed materials and how the proposal meets the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. If a secondary bid is unavailable, please explain why.)	Up to 20 Points
Total		100

Projects

Eligible Projects

• Capital, planning, educational, and marketing project proposals must occur at a historic designated site or a site eligible for historic designation. Properties may be leased or owned with owner authorization.  
• In accordance with Texas Tax Code Ch 351, the proposal and application must meet the following two criteria: (1) The use must directly enhance and promote tourism and the hotel industry; (2) For historic preservation and restoration projects, the project must be: (A) at or in the immediate vicinity of convention center facilities or visitor information centers; or (B) located in the areas that are reasonably likely to be frequented by tourists.  
• Grounds must be accessible, open, and marketed to tourists with reasonable visitation hours. 
• Projects that occur within an Austin City Council District or within Austin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), located downtown or in areas likely to be visited by tourists. 
• Project proposal occurs at a historic designated or eligible site while promoting heritage tourism as its primary purpose.  Verify the historic designation of a site using the City of Austin Historic Property View Finder.   
• Properties listed as historically contributing to a historic district. 
• Properties determined to be eligible for historic designation. If a property is not designated at the time of the application, the applicant must provide a determination of eligibility with the application and sites must be historically designated by the end of the grant contract term. 
• Projects (Capital) must go before the City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission for historic review and approval. Additionally, the project must be evaluated by the Architectural Review Committee and meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and Local Historic Building Standards.  
• Projects that are preservation-related or history-focused and are actively promoted to tourists, hotel guests, and convention delegates to expand audiences and tourists. 
• Proposals with City-owned sites must submit a Community Activated Park Projects form. An approved City of Austin Parks and Recreation Community Activated Park Project Review Form must be submitted, reviewed, and approved before applying for a grant.    

Ineligible Projects

• Activities that occur outside Austin. 
• Acquisition of property. 
• Archeology excavation projects (archeology educational projects are eligible). 
• Audits unless required by funding agreement. 
• Capital projects that do not meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties or local Historic Design Standards. 
• Community Activated Park Projects Proposals at City-owned historic sites that have not been approved by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. 
• Consultants who are members of an applicant’s board. 
• Existing deficits, fines, contingencies, penalties, interest, or litigation costs. 
• Food and beverages. 
• Fundraising expenses. 
• Furnishings. 
• Historic interiors (historic interior planning projects are eligible). 
• Historic properties with fencing in front of, or near, the property that would obscure or prevent visual observation of the building from the public right-of-way. 
• Landscaping or Cultural Landscape projects (cultural landscape planning projects are eligible). 
• Mass-produced commercial products. 
• Murals. 
• New Neon Signage. 
• New building construction or expansion. 
• Owner-occupied properties or historic residential properties. 
• Payments to students or interns whose employment is tied to class credit. 
• Preservation, heritage, and historic projects not associated with a historic site. 
• Projects with no historic designation or are not eligible for historic designation. 
• Property Taxes or any other tax. 
• Purchase of gifts, awards, cash prizes, scholarships, contributions, or donations.
• Purchase of gasoline. 
• Supplementing staff salaries, board, volunteer, and docent activities. 
• Travel-related costs. 
• Wayfinding and right-of-way signage.

Project Categories include: 

Capital Projects

Capital Projects (Maximum award: $250,000)
Contractual preservation agreements to restore, preserve, and promote tourism-serving historic designated sites and structures. The project site must have a historic designation or be eligible for historic designation (designation must be completed within the contract term). The program supports exterior restoration projects. At least two contractor and subcontractor project bids are required for the preservation project. Detailed and thorough project bids must indicate how the proposed work meets the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

All capital project proposals are required to be reviewed by the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) before or shortly after submitting a grant application for funding consideration. ARC project feedback must be incorporated into the proposal. To be placed on an upcoming agenda, please contact the Historic Preservation Office.

Capital Project types include:

• American Disabilities Act Exterior Access
• Awning Restoration / Repair 
• Cast Iron Restoration / Repair
• Door / Window / Screen / Trim Repair
• Exterior Light Fixtures
• Facade Elements / Exterior Walls      
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning   
• Historic Accessory Structure
• Millwork / Wooden Repair
• Paint (must be in kind)
• Pier & Beam / Foundation Stabilization
• Roof Repair
• Signs / Installation (on private property and must comply with local historic sign standards; new neon signs ineligible)

Planning Projects

Planning Projects (Maximum Award: $30,000)
Funding to secure property-specific professional planning expertise in areas such as preservation, architecture, engineering plans, historic designation nominations for tourism-serving sites or potential historic districts.

Projects must be historically designated or eligible for historic designation (designation must be completed within the term of the contract).

Commercial historic properties deemed eligible for historic designation in the East Austin Historic Survey will be prioritized. Read about historic surveys conducted by the City of Austin Historic Preservation Office (HPO).

Planning Project types include:

• Architectural Design
• Heritage Tourism Assessment
• Historic Designation Nomination
• Historic Structures Report
• Interpretive Plan

Experiential Education Projects

Experiential Education Projects (Maximum Award: $250,000)
Projects that actively create experiences for tourists and residents to interact with historic places, events, or activities and the stories that authentically represent the sites and people of the past and enhance the understanding or perspective on heritage, culture, and history. The project site must have a historic designation or be deemed eligible for a historic designation (the designation must be completed within the contract term). 

Detailed and thorough project bid proposals by contractors, subcontractors, and/or vendors are required. Single bids will not be considered.

Educational Project Types include:

• Conferences or Workshops marketed regionally, nationally, or internationally (conferences or workshops may utilize hotel facilities if the event’s promotional program encourages tourists and attendees to visit preserved historic sites or museums managed or owned by the applicant) 
• Events, Festivals, or Programs at a Historic Site or Historic District
• Heritage, Historic, or Interpretive History-Focused Exhibitions or Kiosks (eligible with owner authorization)
• Historic, Heritage, Legacy, Cultural, and Natural Resource Tour Development. Proposals must include a regular in-person component.
• Historic Marker (must indicate eligibility in advance)

Marketing Projects

Marketing Projects (Maximum Award: $30,000)
Projects that actively connect and market heritage, particularly of underrepresented histories or under-interpreted histories, places, or events, that encourage residents and tourists to connect and engage with historic sites and heritage stories. The project must occur at a historically designated site and serve to expand audience and tourism participation. 

Marketing Project types include:

• Heritage and Multicultural Tourism: Destination Videos, Social Media, Advertising, or Marketing Campaigns 
• Marketing Content, Asset Development, and Distribution: Photography, Brochures, Maps, Guides, Rack Cards, Travel/Tour Itineraries, and Translation (print or digital)
• Website Enhancements (must be associated with an existing website and feature site history; operational costs are ineligible)

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Application  |  Eligibility  | Funding

 

Application 

Can you provide more detail on the bid requirements? 

The Heritage Tourism Division requires that all applicants obtain detailed and thorough project bids or quotes for any procurement of service from an outside contractor, subcontractor, or vendor proposed to support the project proposal. 

 

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Eligibility

How do I know if my property is eligible? 

A property can be designated at the local, state or national level. To verify the historic designation of a site, please visit the City of Austin Property Viewfinder, the Texas Historical Commission Sites ATLAS, or the National Register of Historic Places Database. Additional historical research resources can be found on the Historic Research Resources page. 

 

My non-residential property is eligible for a historic designation. How do I apply for a City of Austin historic landmark?

To be eligible for landmark designation, a building must be 50+ years old, retain historic integrity, and meet two of five criteria for significance: architecture; associations with important people, groups, or events; archeology; community value; or landscape feature. For information on the historic zoning application, visit the Planning Department Historic Preservation Office site.  

 

My project will include more than one site, but we do not need access to any of them to undertake the project. Do we need to obtain letters of consent from all the property owners of these sites?

Applicants may partner with a historic building, site, or district. Partner applicants must ensure that the owners of the property have consented to the project and are made aware of the application as it progresses.  

All projects must include a completed Owner Authorization Form.

For eligible proposals on historic City parkland that meet CAPP guidelines, a Community Activated Park Project Form must be submitted and approved by the Parks & Recreation Department before submitting a Heritage Preservation Grant application.  

 

Is the restoration of historic interiors an eligible expense within the grant?

No, the grant supports exterior renovation of historic designated sites promoted to tourists. Historic interior restoration, furnishing, or other related work are ineligible. In addition, all exterior capital project proposals must be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Committee and the Historic Landmark Commission.  

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Funding

What is the source of funding for this program? 

The Heritage Preservation Grant is funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) authorized by Texas Tax Code Section 351.101(a)(5). Austin City Council Resolution No. 20181004-033 allocated 15% of the Historic Preservation Fund for the Heritage Preservation Grant and eligible historic preservation and preservation projects or activities. 

 

What is the maximum award under the Heritage Preservation Grant? 

The maximum grant awards range from $30,000 to $250,000 depending on the project type. 

 

How many recipients will be awarded grants? 

The number of grants will depend on the number of eligible applicants, final scoring, and available funds. 

 

Are matching funds required for this grant program? 

No, the grant may cover 100% of project-related costs. 

 

Can I submit more than one application per grant cycle?

Applicants may submit either a Capital, Planning, Educational, or Marketing project proposal per funding cycle. Only one application per historically designated project site will be considered.

 

I am not applying for a marketing project type specifically, but can marketing expenses be included in the project budget proposal to support our tourism marketing efforts? 

Yes. Expenses to market the historic project site to tourists are eligible expenses for all project types. 

Report

View a summary for the FY2024 Heritage Preservation Grant Program applicants and awardees.

About the Cultural Funding Review Process

The Heritage Preservation Grant funding program supports an inclusive cultural and heritage tourism approach that tells the multilayered history that created the City of Austin. Funding will prioritize equity through a combination of seed funding, broad sector support, and targeted investment. Read the Cultural Funding Report (PDF, 1.8 MB), El camino hacia la equidad cultural (PDF, 2.2 MB).

We aim to connect people and preservation while supporting racially and culturally diverse places where tourists and residents can experience the stories and places that focus on Austin's historic and heritage sites.