Morris Leader

The Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund has opened its grant application process for 2025. Applications must be submitted by March 28, 2025, with a Declaration of Intent due by February 28, 2025.

A Grant Application Workshop will be conducted online via WebEx on January 29, 2025, from 7 to 8 p.m. The workshop aims to guide applicants through the process and clarify questions regarding project eligibility and program requirements. Interested parties can register by contacting Ray Chang at rchang@co.morris.nj.us or calling 973-829-8138.

This year marks a significant change as the Morris County Board of County Commissioners announced that applications for preserving historic structures owned by religious institutions will once again be considered. This follows a preliminary federal court ruling in November that deemed excluding religious institutions from receiving grants unconstitutional under the United States Constitution. Previously, in 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court had ruled against granting taxpayer-funded support to such entities based on state constitutional grounds.

Since its inception in 2003, the preservation program has allocated over $54 million towards the conservation and renovation of more than 129 historic sites within Morris County. The initiative was established after strong voter support for creating a dedicated trust fund.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, qualified nonprofit organizations, and county entities. Projects should involve historic resources listed or eligible for listing on either the State or National Register of Historic Places.

Further details about the application process and recent updates are available on the Grant Application webpage. Notably, paper submissions are not required this year; digital submissions of Preservation Plans or drawings/specifications are expected by March 28, 2025.

For additional information, Ray Chang can be contacted at rchang@co.morris.nj.us or via phone at 973-829-8138.