Education Trust Fund Grant

The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC), serving as the State Historic Preservation Office, is administering the 2026 Historic Sites Grant Program through funds appropriated by the Alabama Legislature. This initiative, totaling $3,600,000, is part of Alabama’s broader efforts to support the preservation and educational engagement of historic places across the state. The program is designed to strengthen historic education-based missions and ensure the long-term preservation of culturally significant sites and monuments. The primary purpose of this funding is to support improvements to historic sites and promote educational programming throughout Alabama. Eligible applicants include public or nonprofit entities that either own and operate historical sites open to the public with a mission focused on historical education or that maintain monuments commemorating important historical events and locations. These projects must take place within Alabama and align with the goals of increasing public access and educational value of historic resources. Grants will be awarded based on preference criteria that prioritize the preservation of certain categories of historical properties. These include properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places that were built before 1840 and are publicly owned and accessible; properties built on or before 1943 with National Register status; and any properties constructed after 1943 that played a significant role in the civil rights movement. All awarded funds must be expended within two years of the grant agreement execution. The program supports a wide range of eligible activities. These include structural repairs such as roof replacement, moisture control, and upgrades to meet ADA compliance; safety improvements; educational enhancements like interpretive signage and programming; and restoration work on cemeteries and monuments, including vegetation removal and grave marker repair. All building projects must conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to ensure historical integrity is maintained. Applications must be submitted through the AHC’s online Submittable portal, and the application must be signed by an authorized official. Required documents include a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), a Certificate of Compliance with the Alabama Beason-Hammon Act, a Disclosure Statement, and, where applicable, an E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding. Nonprofit organizations must also submit their nonprofit verification documents. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed, and those missing required documentation will be considered ineligible. The application window opens on February 11, 2026, and closes on March 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Grant awards are expected to be announced in May 2026. Following award execution, funds will be distributed in two disbursements, and recipients will be required to submit semi-annual progress reports including project photographs. For questions regarding project eligibility or technical compliance, applicants are directed to contact designated staff at the Alabama Historical Commission or consult additional guidance available on the AHC website.