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HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY GRANT PROGRAM

The application for the Historic Property Survey Grant Program is now open. Please click the “Apply Here” button on the right side of this page to apply.

The Historic Property Survey Grant Program is a $400,000 pilot program that will provide grants up to $125,000 for the preparation of Historic Property Surveys throughout the state that include within the defined scope, properties located within a Government Restricted Municipality or that would be considered distress asset/s. 

PROGRAM DETAILS

The program will provide financial assistance in the form of grants for the preparation of Historic Property Surveys throughout the state that include within the defined scope, properties located within a Government Restricted Municipality or that would be considered distress asset/s.  Projects considered would include historic survey of properties/resources based on association by location (municipal surveys), or thematically.  

A distressed asset shall be defined as a building that is fully or partially vacant, or that due to deteriorated appearance of its exterior (because of deferred maintenance such as deteriorated paint or overgrown vegetation, boarded up door and/or windows), could be seen as a deterrent to economic growth to the surrounding area. 

Historic Property Surveys provide a full assessment of an area’s existing historic resources and are a fundamental part of historic preservation planning.  The program seeks to increase the overall understanding of existing historic resources throughout the state (many of which may be identified as distressed assets), as a planning tool to be used as part of future comprehensive economic development planning within the state. 

ELIGIBILTY

Eligible Applicants:

  • Municipal governments
  • County governments
  • Non-profit organizations who are working on behalf of, in coordination with or with the support/endorsement of a municipal or county government.

Eligible Applicants must:

  • be in substantial good standing with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of the Treasury
  • have a current NJ Tax Clearance Certificate provided by the NJ Division of Taxation

Eligible Proposed Projects:

The scope of work must include surveying of properties that are located within a Government Restricted Municipality (GRM); or include the surveying of properties that fit the program’s definition of distressed assets based on the type of survey proposed as follows:

  • Municipal Survey – Scope of work for the survey must include the surveying of properties associated by location and located within a specific municipality.  Such municipality must be a GRM.  
  • Thematic Survey – Scope of work for survey must include the surveying of properties closely associated by a theme such as a historic event/time period, industry, architectural type/style, or group of individuals (race, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, etc.).  Geographic boundary for investigation may be regional (municipal or county) or statewide.  Unless all properties to be surveyed are located within a GRM, the applicant must demonstrate that at least 10% of properties expected to be surveyed fit the program’s definition of distressed asset by providing a site map showing proposed survey boundaries and location of identified distressed assets with accompanying photographs of buildings to demonstrate condition

Work must be completed by a professional or consultant meeting professional qualifications for either “Historian”, or “Architectural Historian” outlined in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, 48 Fed. Reg. 44716, as updated and revised by the National Park Service, which are currently defined and used by the National Park Service, and as previously published in 36 CFR Part 61.

Please be advised: New Jersey State law prohibits most cannabis license and certification holders from receiving or continuing to receive an economic incentive from the NJEDA. If the applicant, or any person who controls the applicant or owns or controls more than one percent of the stock of the applicant, has applied for or received a license or a certification from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), the applicant is ineligible for this program and should not proceed with an application. If an application is received from an applicant that meets this criteria, the application will be declined and the application fee will not be refunded. 

AWARD SIZE

Grant awards up to $125,000 per applicant. 

Applicants are eligible to receive only one award.  

FEES

Application Fee: $1,000. An application fee waiver is available for municipal governments, municipal authorities, or commission and redevelopment agencies located in municipalities with 2020 Municipal Revitalization Index (MRI) scores in the top 10% of all municipalities statewide.

** All fees are non-refundable

Once approved, the grantee must comply with the following project specific requirements:

  • Projects submitted for consideration must, at a minimum, document all potential resources included within a distinctly defined area/community, municipality and/or county. For thematic surveys, applicant must show larger areas of study (such as county or statewide) that will allow for a better understanding of theme.
  • Projects must include detailed written historic background and context information that addresses all resources included.
  • Survey must be completed following NJDEP’s Historic Preservation Office’s (HPO) Guidelines for Architectural Survey. Survey forms and guidelines can be found on HPO’s website at: https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/survarcht.htm.
  • Deliverable requirements:
    • Scope of work for all projects submitted for consideration shall require submission of one hard copy of the final survey (including all survey forms) to be submitted to HPO, and a corresponding electronic version (also inclusive of all forms) in pdf format to both HPO and NJEDA.
    • Final deliverables must include GIS data consistent with the NJDEP’s Historic Preservation Office’s approved formats, and minimum requirements as specified in NJDEP’s Mapping and Digital Data Standards.
  • All non-profit applicants must include a certification stating that in addition to the deliverable requirements outlined above, the government entity with whom the applicant has a close co-operation agreement with will:
    • Receive, at a minimum, one hard copy of the entire, completed, and approved survey, and an electronic copy of the completed survey and all data collected as part of the investigation. Hard copy must be a high-quality print (not a photocopy) will all text clearly legible and clear photographs.
    • Have full authorized use of the final survey completed and all data collected as part of the investigation.
  • Unless applicant seeks and is granted a time extension for project completion, draft survey report with all survey forms and necessary attachments must be completed and submitted within 1 year from execution of grant agreement. Any request for a time extension (of no longer than six months beyond the original one year) must be submitted in writing to the Authority. Draft report will be reviewed by the NJEDA and/or HPO.
  • NJEDA, in coordination with the HPO, will issue comments as needed to address any deficiencies of draft report, forms, and any attachments. The grantee will have 60 calendar days to address comments and submit a final historic survey report (including all survey forms and necessary attachments) to HPO for final acceptance. HPO will confirm acceptance of final report to NJEDA.

TAX CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE

Division of Taxation Tax Clearance Certificate required. Certificates may be requested through the State of New Jersey’s Premier Business Services (PBS) portal online.

Under the Tax & Revenue Center, select Tax Services, then select Business Incentive Tax Clearance. If the applicant’s account is in compliance with its tax obligations and no liabilities exist, the Business Incentive Tax Clearance can be printed directly through PBS.