October 11, 2022 (rt23 news) - TRENTON - The New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), today approved a total of $15,758,315 in grant recommendations from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund to save and promote historic sites throughout the state. Sixty-five preservation planning, heritage tourism, and capital projects are included in this year’s list of recommendations.

“The New Jersey Historic Trust is committed to its mission of saving and telling New Jersey’s history,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “This round of grant recommendations for preservation planning, heritage tourism, and capital projects will help to preserve historic structures, documents, and artifacts that tell the stories of New Jersey’s history to future generations.”

Of the 65 grant award recommendations, 27 will help fund preservation planning projects such as condition assessments, historic structure reports, archaeological investigations, and construction documents; one grant will help fund heritage tourism initiatives to improve the visitor experience at historic sites; and 37 grants will fund capital preservation projects on sites listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. All grants awarded to nonprofit organizations or entities of municipal, county and state governments require a match from the recipient.

Included in the list of recommendations is $649,789 in support of two special projects to fund a master plan for the Delaware and Raritan Canal as well as a survey of civil rights sites in Camden. Also included is $2,922,000 for the next tranche of funding for the following multi-year projects: Lambert Castle in Passaic County, Hoboken Public Library in Hudson County, East Trenton Library in Mercer County, and the Seward House in Morris County.

“I am grateful that we were able to fund so many worthy projects this year, especially when you consider the challenges our historic sites have endured over the past few years,” said New Jersey Historic Trust Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. “These projects will create jobs to bolster the economy and sustain our heritage for years to come.”
The grant recommendations, which have been approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board, will be presented to the Garden State Preservation Trust at its next meeting and require a legislative appropriations bill and the Governor’s approval before funds are made available. Funding for the current grant round is dedicated from a voter-approved constitutional amendment that created the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund. The Preserve New Jersey Fund continues the work of the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund and voter-supported referendums that have committed over $180 million to more than 1,000 historic preservation projects since 1990. All funded resources are listed or certified eligible in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, either individually or within designated historic districts.