Grant Funding for Historic Cemeteries Now Available

The Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP) announced today that applications to request funding through the new Historic Cemetery Grant program are now available.

“The Historic Cemetery Preservation program aims to help preserve historic cemeteries across the state and enable them to continue to serve their communities,” noted Dr. Allyson Brooks, director of the State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. “Washington State has more than 1,700 known cemeteries potentially eligible to take advantage of this new grant program. We hope the program encourages communities to take on projects of all sizes with renewed interest and appreciation in these important places.”

Cemeteries over 50 years old are eligible to receive grant funds to complete capital projects associated with cemetery rehabilitation and preservation. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process reviewed by the Cemetery Advisory Committee. Criteria for funding include relative historic significance; relative percentage of military burials in the cemetery; project’s impact on future maintenance and operation costs and provisions provided for long-term preservation; urgency of the project; accessibility of the cemetery to the public; and the extent to which the project leverages community and volunteer support.

All application materials related to the Historic Cemetery Grant Program can be downloaded through DAHP’s website: https://dahp.wa.gov/HistoricCemeteryGrant
Applicants with questions about the grant program are encouraged to contact Julianne Patterson at (206) 624-9449 or via email at jpatterson@preservewa.org. Grant applications are due Friday, June 29, 2018, with grant awards to be announced in August.