Heritage Preservation Grant
Application Window Opens: September 10, 2024 at 10 am CST
The Heritage Preservation Grant promotes tourism through historic preservation projects and activities inclusive of all stories rooted in history and heritage.
Heritage Preservation Grants are preservation grants for capital, planning, educational, or marketing projects at historically designated sites. Funding for eligible projects is made possible through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) proceeds from Austin’s convention and hotel industries.
2025 Application Cycle
The application window for the FY25 Heritage Preservation Grant is open from Tuesday, September 10th, 2024 through 7pm CST Tuesday October 8th, 2024.
Project proposals must serve to preserve the exterior of a historic site and/or clearly promote Austin’s history and heritage (heritage tourism) of the site to tourists as its primary purpose.
Before Applying:
- Review the Heritage Preservation Grant Guidelines
- Register and create a City of Austin Vendor Account
- Use the Heritage Preservation Grant Application Fillable Template to draft responses.
Access Resources to Support your Heritage Preservation Grant Application:
- Access the Heritage Preservation Grant Research Resources site for helpful historic research links to support your application;
- RSVP to attend an upcoming Heritage Preservation Grant Awareness Workshop (Virtual, In-Person, and Spanish Translation Available)
- View pre-recorded Heritage Preservation Grant Awareness Workshop Videos in English and Spanish
- Participate in Virtual Open Office Hours, the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CST
- Join Virtual Open Office Hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST on October 8, 2024.
- Contact the Heritage Tourism Division for program, guidelines, timeline, or eligibility questions at heritagetourism@austintexas.gov
- For technical help with your application, reach out to The Long Center’s Community Programs Team at applicationhelp@thelongcenter.org or view the Submittable Applicant and Technical Assistance Guide.
Resources for
Heritage Preservation Grant Applicants and Awardees
By the Numbers
Heritage Preservation Grant Applicants and Awardees
Established by the City of Austin, the Heritage Preservation Grant promotes tourism through historic preservation projects and activities inclusive of all stories rooted in history and heritage. See statistics and details from the City of Austin Economic Development Department for the FY2024 Heritage Preservation Grant.
Locations That Received
2023 Heritage Preservation Grants
Administrative Updates
FY24 Awardees
We are processing first payments to awardees upon receiving confirmation that their Contract with the City of Austin has been fully executed. All administrative processes are handled through the Submittable platform.
FY23 Awardees
We are processing Interim and Final payments to Heritage Preservation Grant awardees upon receiving confirmation from the Heritage Tourism Department that all required documentation has been submitted. A list of this documentation has been sent to awardees by the Heritage Tourism Department. Please email melissa.alvarado@austintexas.gov for more information.
Learn More About the Other City of Austin Grants That Create Austin Administers
Austin Live Music Fund
This fund was established by City of Austin and provides an ongoing budget for cultural funding programs for Austin’s music industry.
Elevate Grant
Grants for arts organizations, individual artists, and creative businesses that produce culturally vibrant and diverse artistic content.
Nexus Grant
Grants for new and emerging local small organizations, individual artists, and small arts businesses to produce creative public projects.
Thrive Grant
Provides focused investment to sustain and grow arts organizations that are deeply rooted in and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures.
Creativity should be prioritized in our city – creating vibrant neighborhoods, social impact, sustainable economics, and job opportunities. By working together, we can enrich the lives of all who live in and visit our vibrant city.
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to one of the five grants administered by Create Austin, visit our Submittable Grant Management Platform. For more information on each program, you can explore our Resource Hub or visit the City of Austin website:
- Heritage Preservation Grant can be found through the Heritage Tourism Division.
- The Austin Live Music Fund can be found through the Music and Entertainment Division.
- Thrive, Nexus, and Elevate can be found through the Cultural Arts Department.
It is important to look at the city’s eligibility guidance for each program, to find the grant application closest suited to you or your organization.
While most of the public resources available for 2023’s round of grant programs will be found through the City of Austin, Create Austin is working to produce a great number of additional resources to support future applicants, current grantees, and community networkers. These will include, but not be limited to: public training sessions on grant writing, engagement opportunities for community collaboration and feedback, and detailed guidance on application processes, timelines, and eligibility.
The Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) is a statewide tax collected from hotels and other tourist-oriented accommodation providers. It is used to support the cultural industries within cities that drive tourism. The five City of Austin grants administered by Create Austin are funded exclusively through this source.
As a contractor of the city, Create Austin is not responsible for the selection of grant awardees. Our role is administration and logistics – ensuring the grant funds are distributed and providing financial reporting back to the city.
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