Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants

To assist States and local communities acquire and preserve threatened battlefield land from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. This grant program enables the permanent protection of historic battlefield lands through fee simple acq

Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants support efforts to permanently protect historic battlefield lands from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. This program provides competitive grants to state and local governments-often working with preservation groups-to acquire battlefield land either by purchasing it outright or through conservation easements. All grants require a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match, ensuring communities invest alongside the federal contribution.

States, Tribes, and local governments. Nonprofit organizations seeking to acquire battlefield land or easements must apply in partnership with the State or local government agency that has jurisdiction over the proposed parcel. The government agency may then sub-grant the Federal funds to the nonprofit organization.

State and local governments (local communities, nonprofits, and battlefield landowners) benefit.

Grants are available for the fee simple acquisition of land, or for the acquisition of permanent, protective interests in land (easements), at Civil War battlefields listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission's (CWSAC) 1993 "Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields" and at Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefields listed in the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) 2007 "Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States." To be eligible for acquisition, the land must be at least 50% within the boundary of a Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or Civil War battlefield identified in the reports above. Funds may not be used to acquire land or interests in land within the legislative boundary of a unit of the National Park System. Grantees or subgrantees must provide for the appropriate public access (entry or viewable from public right-of-way) to and enjoyment of any lands or interests in lands acquired with assistance from this program, subject to necessary and reasonable measures on the part of the beneficiary to protect the historic features of the battlefield from damage or loss. Land acquired with these funds must be preserved in perpetuity. In any case where a local government or a private non-profit organization acquires land or an interest in land with assistance from this program, it must convey an acceptable perpetual protective easement on the land to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or other organization acceptable to the National Park Service and SHPO.

Battlefield land, or interests in land, are purchased immediately after receipt of funds, as soon as possible after award, usually no later than one year after receipt of funds. Periods of Performance for awarded grants is typically 3 years to allow for purchase and recording of required easement or preservation agreement.

Informal pre-application coordination with ABPP staff is highly recommended. Coordination with appropriate State Historic Preservation Office(s) is required for National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Review. The ABPP's Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Section 106 Review, available on the ABPP's website https://www.nps.gov/orgs/2287/upload/NPS-ABPP-Programmatic-Agreement_Amend-2_2022.pdf for this grant program must be consulted prior to applying.

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.

Proposals received in response to announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available throughout the year. The Director of the National Park Service makes awards to approved applicants.

Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact.

If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.