Underrepresented Communities Grant Program (US)

URC grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), and are administered by the NPS. Projects include surveys and nominations of historic sites associated with communities underrepresented in the National Register. Every URC grant project must result in at least one new or amended nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Funding: $1,250,000
• Maximum Award: $75,000
• Minimum Award: $15,000
• Grant applications must range from $15,000 to $75,000.
• Projects receiving funding through this Notice of Funding Opportunity will start once funding has been secured and awards have been made. Agreements are not effective until released through Grant Solutions by the NPS Financial Assistance Awarding Officer (FAAO).

Eligible Funding

• For this program they also include:
  • Costs for producing or amending a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or Tribal Register;
  • Costs for producing a Multiple Property Document Form;
  • Costs for survey and inventory of historic resources related to the National Register of Historic Places or Tribal Register nomination;
  • Costs for any required audits or financial requests;
  • Costs for public notice of grant opportunity;
  • Administrative costs necessary to complete and administer the grant requirements;
  • Costs associated with required training or reporting; and,
  • Any other costs as determined eligible by the NPS in accordance with the OMB circulars, NPS policies, and the Historic Preservation Fund Grants Manual.

Ineligible Funding

• Construction of new buildings
• Acquisition of collections or historic sites
• Long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period
• Reconstruction of historic properties (recreating all or a significant portion that no longer exists)
• Moving historic properties, or work on moved historic properties that are no longer eligible for listing in the NRHP
• Cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, or fundraising costs
• Work performed prior to the announcement of the award
• Work performed on sites or collections owned or leased by the NPS, or in which the NPS holds a property interest
• Lobbying or advocacy activities
• Costs for work already completed or funded through other federal programs
• Administrative costs plus indirect costs beyond 25% of total project budget
• Miscellaneous costs, contingencies, reserves, and overhead

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Applicants 
  • 00 – State governments
  • 01 – County governments
  • 02 – City or township governments
  • 04 – Special district governments
  • 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • 07 – Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • 11 – Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher
  • education
  • 13 – Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • 20 – Private institutions of higher education
• In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act as amended, 54 USC §300101, this funding opportunity is limited to:
  • State Historic Preservation Offices
  • Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Federally-recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Villages/Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations, as defined by 54 USC 300309, 54 USC 300313 and 54 USC 300314
  • Certified Local Governments
  • Nonprofit, tax-exempt U.S. organizations, with or without 501©(3) designation
• Grants are not available for sites or collections owned or leased by the NPS, or in which the NPS holds a property interest.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.