Commission awards funding to projects across state

Austin—The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded grant funding to 12 projects from its Texas Preservation Trust Fund (TPTF) and financed four additional projects from specially earmarked funds available to eligible projects in Dallas at its quarterly meeting on Oct. 27.

The THC selected 16 projects from 37 initial applications to be recipients of the Fiscal Year 2024 TPTF grant awards, totaling $892,403.

The projects selected for this grant cycle are located across the state and fall into two categories: Heritage Education and Architecture.

Three projects were selected in the Heritage Education category: the city of San Antonio’s African American Heritage Preservation Initiative Video and Graphic Novel; the statewide Aya Symposium; and Abilene Christian University’s archeological and educational activities at Paint Rock in Concho County.  

Nine projects seeking regular TPTF funds were selected in the Architecture category: Abilene Courts in Abilene; Sebastopol House Museum in Seguin; Abara House at the Historic Hacienda in El Paso; Flower Hill in Austin; Arechiga Hall at Laredo College-Fort McIntosh in Laredo; Hillsboro City Library in Hillsboro; Concord Rosenwald School Restoration Project in Mount Enterprise; Pioneers Rest Cemetery in Fort Worth; and the Orange Show in Houston.

Four Architecture projects within the city of Dallas seeking special earmarked funding were selected: The Phillis Wheatley School; Natural History Museum and Visitors Center at Fair Park; 1208 E. 10th Street; and the Dallas Scottish Rite Cathedral.

The Texas Legislature created the TPTF in 1989 to allow a stable source of funding to be developed to assist preservation efforts throughout the state. The fund is currently managed by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company. The TPTF investment earnings are distributed as matching grants to qualified applicants for the acquisition, survey, restoration, preservation, planning, and heritage education activities leading to the preservation of historic properties and archeological sites or collections. Competitive grants are awarded on a one-to-one match basis and are paid as reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred.