Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program

The Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program, also known as the Project 66 Grant, is administered by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. Its purpose is to support the preservation, enhancement, and revitalization of the Route 66 experience across Oklahoma. Through targeted investments in community development and historical conservation, this program seeks to boost tourism, enrich local culture, and stimulate sustainable economic growth in the communities that lie along the iconic highway. Eligible applicants for this grant include municipalities or counties located directly on Route 66, nonprofit organizations, and other government entities or agencies. Applicants must demonstrate a direct geographic and programmatic connection to Route 66. The grant strongly emphasizes projects that contribute to historic preservation or economic development, with allowable uses including capital investments and a limited scope of promotional activities. Examples of eligible project types include placemaking initiatives, facility upgrades, preservation of historical landmarks, new construction, community or regional planning efforts, interpretive signage, and research projects tied to Route 66. Applicants may submit different project phases across multiple grant cycles, allowing for larger or more complex initiatives to be funded incrementally. Funding requests must fall between $25,000 and $2 million per application. Applications are reviewed by the nine-member Oklahoma Route 66 Commission, which evaluates each submission solely based on the material presented in the application package. Supplemental materials not requested in the application will not be considered. Projects not selected in one round may be resubmitted in subsequent cycles. The evaluation process focuses on four equally weighted criteria: the overall project description including relevant visuals or maps; the anticipated impact of the project on local communities, tourism, and Route 66 as a whole; the organizational structure and sustainability plan of the applicant; and the completeness and clarity of the proposed budget, including any matching components. Each applicant is required to address these four criteria through detailed narratives. The Round 4 application window opens on August 15, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., and closes on September 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. All applications must be submitted through the Route 66 Grant Portal. Questions and inquiries regarding the application process should be directed to [email protected].

Address all four evaluation criteria in detail; resubmission is allowed if not funded in earlier rounds; submit only requested materials, as extras will not be reviewed.