Capital Improvement Grants Program

HARTFORD — Nonprofit organizations with ideas to preserve a historic structure or restore a building for cultural use in Connecticut are encouraged to look into The Commission on Culture & Tourism’s (CCT) two Capital Improvement Grant Programs (CIP).

Applications are being accepted for Historic Restoration Fund (HRF) Grants and Cultural Capital Grants (CCG).

HRFs may be used for the restoration, rehabilitation, or purchase of historic buildings, structures and objects or the investigation of archaeological sites. These properties, structures and objects must be listed on the State Register of Historic Places and owned by nonprofit organizations or municipalities.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $200,000 and must be matched on a one-to-one basis with cash. Matching funds can not come from the State of Connecticut. Facilities or work must be open or visible to the public.

HRF grant applicants must provide evidence that the proposed project will successfully enhance or maintain the long-term preservation and protection of a historic building, structure, object, or archaeological site; provide enhanced capabilities for programming that will serve a wider audience or underserved community members; have a positive economic impact; improve accessibility to programs by providing disabled access; and/or attract new audiences.

CCGs fund the rehabilitation, restoration, stabilization, improvement, expansion or purchase of new or existing buildings or structures utilized for cultural programs. Properties must be owned by a cultural nonprofit organization.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $75,000 and must be matched on a one-to-one basis with cash. Matching funds cannot come from the State of Connecticut. Facilities must be open to the public and provide disabled access.

Application form and guidelines for the both grants are available on the CCT website at CultureAndTourism.org or by request from Wayne Gannaway, construction grant coordinator of CCT’s Historical Preservation and Museum Division, at 860-566-3005, extension 324, or wayne.gannaway@ct.gov.

Applications must be submitted by mail or hand delivery to CCT by Wednesday, October 31, at 4:30 pm. CCT’s office is at One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street, Hartford CT 06103.