Since the program's inception in 1999, the Texas Legislature has appropriated funds for seven competitive grant cycles or rounds. The THC establishes a timeline for the next grant round after program funding is determined. Generally, funding applications are due in December of odd numbered years.
Please check this website for a program update in the summer of 2013 after the close of the 83rd Texas Legislative session.
Eligibility
To participate in the THCPP and be eligible to receive grant funding, a project must meet the following criteria:
- A building that serves or has served as a county courthouse
- A building that is county owned
- A building that is over 50 years old or is certified as worthy of preservation
- A building that has a current Master Plan approved by THC
Getting Started with a Master Plan
To participate in the grant program, counties must have prepared a Master Plan for preserving and maintaining their historic county courthouse. Hiring a professional preservation architect to assist in this process will help county representatives evaluate the current state of the courthouse and set priorities for rehabilitating and maintaining the building.
A good master plan includes a history of the building, historic photos and drawings, a thorough evaluation of existing conditions and a plan for the future, with an estimated budget for all the proposed work. The master plan must be submitted to the THC for review and may either be accepted, with suggested changes made and resubmitted, or rejected. Proposed work must comply with the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The document is a general plan of action and does not include detailed construction plans and specifications.
Master Plan Resources:
Master Plan Outline & Format (pdf)
Finding and Hiring Qualified Historic Preservation Consultants (pdf)
Preservation Consultants for Previous and Current THCPP Projects (pdf)
Accepted and Rejected Master Plans (pdf)
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (pdf)
Program Rules
The program has been administered by THC under the rules established by a working group and adopted in 1999. The full text of the Texas Administrative Code is found, here.
Texas Administrative Code, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (pdf)
Previous grant application timeline, procedures and forms
Round VII Timeline Calendar (pdf)
Round VII Application Procedures (pdf)
Round VII Application (pdf)
Round VII Budget Form (pdf)
Applications are evaluated and grants awarded based on factors related to the specific building,the project proposal and community support. Factors and weighting are listed for the previous application round below. Application and scoring history for previous rounds can be found here.
Fun Facts
