SdCNHA grants offered for cultural and heritage preservation

VALLEY — Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area (SdCNHA) is offering grants of up to $25,000 to Colorado nonprofits and agencies for local cultural and heritage education and preservation activities in Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla Counties.

Eligible projects may be dedicated to preservation, reconstruction, restoration, archaeology, rehabilitation, interpretation and wayfinding, conservation, or recreation with a heritage or cultural emphasis. Funding is also intended to support heritage tourism.

Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 5 p.m. on June 1.

Some project examples are as follows:

- Projects that require professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, natural resource conservation, or historic preservation planning, etc. For example, the services of a real estate development consultant may be required to produce an economic feasibility study for reuse of a threatened structure.

- Development of a curriculum for local history or ethnic heritage for school children.

- Sponsoring a workshop on the preservation of cultural landscapes, architecture, or local traditional arts.

- Restoration or rehabilitation projects that are directly related to local cultural and historic preservation efforts, with specific emphasis on collaboration and effective use of matching funds.

- Community events that celebrate an aspect of the culture or heritage of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area (SdCNHA) region.

- Interpretive signage and print materials related to the history and heritage of the SdCNHA region.

Awards will not exceed $25,000.

Grant and project can only begin in 2018. Projects should preferably be completed within one year, but projects can be applied for in phases.

The review process is completed within approximately six weeks of the application deadlines, and applicants will be notified of their award status in writing by August 30.

SdCNHA grant requests must not exceed 20 percent of the proposed total project budget. Applicants shall provide a list of other sources and funding amounts available to the overall project. No greater than 25 percent of these non-federal matching funds may be in-kind contributions or services; at least 50 percent of funds expended to meet the SdCNHA matching funds requirement will be non-federal cash funds.

The grant award shall be disbursed to the grantee on a reimbursement basis. If awarded, grant recipients are required to attend a grant orientation.

Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals carefully utilizing the Heritage Area Management Plan Goals and Objectives, found on the Management Plan page: http://sdcnha.org/wp/management-plan/

Applications can be found at funders website  http://sdcnha.org/wp/grants/

Completed applications and attachments should be mailed or hand delivered to the SdCNHA by the stipulated deadline at the address noted below:

Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area

Attention: “Grants”

P.O. Box 844

Alamosa 81101