02.0 - Briefing on Heritage Preservation Grant — original pdf

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AACME Funding Programs Heritage Preservation Grant Overview About AACME: Established February 24, 2025 AACME focuses on sustaining and growing Austin's creative sector. Spring–Summer 2025 “Creative Reset” Community Engagement: Phase 1 focused on improving funding programs and gathered extensive input: • • • • 11,801 comments 1,289 survey responses 200+ focus group participants 50+ community conversations Creative Reset Dashboard: Voices from Austin's Creative Community - ACME Cultural Funding Analysis Heritage Preservation Grant Heritage Preservation Grant aims to preserve and promote preservation projects, expand access to historic spaces and heritage resources, showcase local stories rooted in history, support the creative economy to attract and expand audiences and engage tourists seeking authentic experiences. Based on State Statute Ch. 351, the project must: • Be used for historical restoration and preservation projects or activities to encourage tourism to visit preserved historic sites. • At, or in the immediate vicinity of, Convention Center facilities or visitor information centers; • Located in the areas that would be frequented by tourists and convention delegates; Image by Chelse Purgahn, courtesy of Black Austin Tours (FY21 awardee) Eligibility and Requirements • Applicant types: • • 501(c)(3) nonprofit For-profit business • Two years operating experience in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) • Own or lease a historic designated site for capital improvement projects • Proposed project or event sites must occur in Austin or Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) • Proposed project or event sites must be open and advertised to Austin residents, visitors, and tourists • Preservation projects and programs must highlight storytelling and invite tourists to explore historic sites Heritage Events Includes historic research, develops a tourism itinerary, promotes tourism and untold stories of the location Designation: Not required Award Amount: Up to $50,000 Includes historic research and highlights the history of the site Designation: Required local, state or national designation or Council-approved heritage districts Award Amount: Up to $150,000 Heritage programming at Republic Square, Image courtesy of Downtown Austin Alliance (FY24 awardee) Term: 12 months Eligible Activities: • Heritage events, festivals, or programs • Heritage, historic, or interpretative exhibits • Tour Development: historic, heritage, legacy business Image by KVUE, Interpretive signage and stories about the community and land at Bethany Cemetery (FY24 awardee) Capital Improvement Projects Award Amount: Up to $250,000 Required: Historic Designation and Owner Authorization Term: 24 months Eligible Activities • ADA exterior access • Façade elements • Foundation stabilization • Masonry rehabilitation / repair • Professional preservation services and consultants • Interior improvements (NEW): electrical, mechanical, flooring, safety upgrades with sensitive treatment paired with exterior proposal Exterior restoration of Administration Building, Image courtesy of Huston- Tillotson University (FY23 awardee) Capital Improvement Project Requirements  Site must be designated historic, contributing to a historic district, or eligible for designation (local, state, or national)  Owner authorization required  One complete bid package with bids from a contractor, (Preservation) architect, and subcontractor(s)  Interior projects must include a sensitive treatment plan and pair an exterior project proposal  Must comply with City of Austin Historic Design Standards and/or The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties Image by Essentials Creative, courtesy of Center for Women & Their Work (FY24 awardee)  Architect recommendations required to demonstrate compliance with historic design standards Grant Eligible Expenses (Sampling)  Marketing and advertising promotions  Project insurance  Permits  Equipment rentals  Historic research and/or historic designation  Honoraria for oral history interviews  Supplies  Production fees  Performance and service fees  Equipment purchases/repairs  Historic research and/or historic designation  Non-expendables for tour development  Professional services from Preservation Architects, Interpretative Planners, Architectural Historians  Project management fees up to 10 percent of the funding request amount (Capital only) 2024 Homes Tour on Maple Avenue, Image courtesy of Preservation Austin (FY24 awardee) & Graphic by Kristen Napoleon All expenses must be related to the grant-funded activities promoted to tourists. Ineligible Projects or Expenses (Sampling) ❑ Capital projects that do not meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards or local Historic Design Standards ❑ Consultants who are also employees ❑ Curriculum development or programming, scholarly or academic research, payments to students or interns tied to class credit, and any related activities ❑ Capital projects with no owner authorization ❑ Food and hospitality ❑ Fundraising expenses, capital campaigns, and benefits ❑ Funds to cover the same expenses or activities from another AACME grant (also known as “double dipping”) ❑ New building construction or expansion ❑ Owner-occupied properties or historic residential properties ❑ Property taxes or any other taxes See AACME Funding Program guidelines for additional information. Application Sections ❑ Applicant Introduction Statement (video or narrative) ❑ Scoring Criteria: ❑ Preservation Impact (up to 36 points) ❑ Tourism Impact (up to 36 points) ❑ New Voices, Historic Places (up to 18 points) ❑ New Local Historic Designation (up to 10 points) ❑ Project budget table ❑ One complete bid package (Capital only) ❑ Owner authorization (Capital only) ❑ Supporting documentation uploads required For the complete Heritage Preservation Grant Readiness Checklist visit: https://www.austintexas.gov/heritage-preservation-grant Image courtesy of Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery & Bar (FY21 awardee) How To Apply 1. Intake Form 3. Application Form Must be completed by Lead Applicant* *Lead Applicant = Authorizing Signatory One Intake Form per Lead Applicant You must complete Steps 1 and 2 by their respective deadlines to gain access to the application. Applications DUE by 6:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 No paper or emailed applications will be accepted Eligibility Forms DUE by 6:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 Eligibility Form must be completed Allow up to 4-business days for access to application 2. Eligibility Form AACME Funding Programs Heritage Preservation Grant Overview LAUNCH: Oct. 21, 2025 DEADLINE: Dec. 4, 2025 NEXT STEPS APPLY: https://www.austintexas.gov/acme/grants-funding ACCESS: Guidelines, register for workshops, request support