Heritage Partnership Grant Program 2023
Partnership Grants for Marketing and Promotion, Programming and Interpretation, Preservation Planning in the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
- The 2023 Heritage Partnership Grant for Interpretation is intended to provide residents and visitors with new / expanded opportunities for deeper understanding of the Upper Housatonic River Valley. The grants will support research projects, interpretive exhibits, events and programming that provide informed and thoughtful exploration of the region’s history, culture and natural heritage.
- Grant applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, though no applications under this program will be accepted after September 30, 2023.
Heritage Partnership Grants are intended to fulfill the mission of Housatonic Heritage to provide a more complete understanding and enjoyment of the heritage area’s themes of history, culture, scenic beauty (natural resources) and / or independent spirit.
The Housatonic Heritage Partnership Grant Program is a reimbursable, matching grant program for municipalities and qualified non-profit organizations whose activities support our mission to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
Heritage Partnership Grant Program:
Housatonic Heritage periodically offers grants to eligible non-profit organizations, educational institutions and municipalities for specific programs and projects. Typically these grants are up to $10,000 (though larger grants are considered) and require a 1:1 match of non-federal cash and / or in-kind service. Additional details are below.
Background Information:
The mission of Housatonic Heritage is to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.
The operational goal of the Heritage Area is to provide a management framework that furthers the mission of the heritage area, and fosters a close working relationship with all levels of government, the private sector, and local non-governmental organizations within the region.
Another goal is to assist communities and non-profit organizations in the heritage area region of Massachusetts and Connecticut in identifying, interpreting, and developing the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the region for the educational and inspirational benefit of current and future generations.
Grants reflecting the mission of Housatonic Heritage:
To further the Heritage Area’s goals, a grant-making program will award matching funds to projects proposed by area non-profits, accredited educational institutions and governmental entities that support and further the heritage area’s mission to heighten appreciation of the region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.
The Upper Housatonic Valley Region:
The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area includes nine towns in Connecticut and twenty in Massachusetts. The Connecticut towns are Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren. The Massachusetts towns are Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesboro, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlboro, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge.
Qualified applicants must be a non-profit organization, as evidenced by IRS non-profit determination letter, a public entity (municipality, state government), or accredited educational institution.
Before preparing and submitting a Partnership Grant application, the responsible Officer of the applicant organization should review the following to determine if the organization is able to comply with the grant requirements.
In addition:
- Project must fall within the geographic boundaries of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (See maps at www.housatonicheritage.org)
- Project must NOT include any “bricks & mortar” component, or any element of historic preservation (rehabilitation or construction) work that would invoke Section 106 requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
- Project must closely relate to the mission of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, and in particular – to improve the quality of life and economy of the area.
- Project or portion of project to be funded with a Partnership Grant must NOT begin before the grant is awarded and Housatonic Heritage grant contract is signed
Program Management Requirements:
- Adhere to all Housatonic Heritage reporting requirements, which include providing thorough project reports and documentation of all project income and expenses. Please use the Housatonic Heritage Budget Report Guidelines, available for download from our website
- Meet Housatonic Heritage deadlines set forth in the grant criteria
- Monitor project work
Additional Grant Requirements:
- Acknowledge Housatonic Heritage’s support in all press opportunities and materials publicizing or resulting from grant activities
- Use the Housatonic Heritage logo where appropriate (brochures, websites, newsletters, etc); logo is available for download from our website.
- Provide digital photographs of project or program activities
- Provide Housatonic Heritage with copy of all original work (DVD, brochures, photographs, etc)
To discuss your project prior to submitting an application, call (860) 435-9505 or email info@housatonicheritage.org. (see additional contact information below).
Grant Review Panel & Conflict of Interest
In order to maintain the highest standards of fairness in the competition for grants, Housatonic Heritage operates to avoid any possible conflict of interest. Any member of the Grants Committee and Board of Trustees will abstain from deliberating or voting on any proposal in which he/she is connected through employment, through service as an unpaid consultant to the project, or as an officer or other representative.
All eligible applicants must submit the following:
- One (1) original signed application (PDF preferred) sent via email to: info@housatonicheritage.org
- Grant narrative, budget forms and other attachments may be included with the application as a single PDF, or may be sent as separate PDFs
Matching Funds Requirement:
- The Partnership Grant Program awards matching grants of federal funds on a reimbursable basis.
- Grant recipients must match all grant awards on a minimum ONE-TO-ONE basis, with cash funds or in-kind contributions. The total cost of the project must be AT LEAST TWICE the amount of your grant request. For example, if your request is $2,000 then you must demonstrate that your project costs AT LEAST $4,000.
- Applicant must have sufficient funds to cover the applicant’s entire share of the project
- Applicant must have evidence of applicant’s ability to provide one-to-one matching
- Grant Application must include a letter signed by the responsible Officer of the applicant organization that documents the amount of match funding being contributed to the project, and the source of that funding.
- Match Funds must be verifiable from your records, and must be considered “necessary and reasonable” for proper and efficient completion of your project.
- Match Funds CANNOT be included as direct contributions from any other federally assisted program or be paid by the federal government under another award. This includes operating costs of the organization and routine repair and facility costs.
