Published on January 23, 2025
The Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund is now accepting grant applications for 2025 funding.
The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28, 2025, and a Declaration of Intent is due by Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation will host a Grant Application Workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, from 7 to 8 p.m. via WebEx. The workshop will explain the application process and answer questions about project eligibility, past funding and program requirements.
To register, contact Ray Chang at rchang@co.morris.nj.us or call 973-829-8138.
One major change this year, announced by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, is that Morris County will resume acceptance and consideration of applications submitted for the preservation of historic structures owned by religious institutions.
In 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled it was a violation of the New Jersey Constitution for Morris County to issue taxpayer-funded grants to religious institutions. In November, a federal court judge issued a preliminary ruling that the exclusion of religious institutions violates the United States Constitution. As a result, religious institutions may apply for historic preservation grants in the 2025 funding round, pending a final decision from the court.
Since 2003, the historic preservation program has awarded more than $54 million in grants to preserve and renovate 129 historic buildings and structures across the county. The program was initiated following overwhelming support by voters to establish a historic preservation trust fund.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, qualified nonprofit organizations and the county. Projects must involve historic resources listed or certified eligible for listing on the State or National Register of Historic Places.
Details about the application process and recent program updates, including rule changes allowing religious institutions to apply for 2025 funding, are available on the Grant Application webpage.
Paper submission requirements are waived for the 2025 cycle. Preservation Plans or drawings/specifications not previously reviewed by the County Consultant should be submitted digitally to staff and the County Consultant by March 28, 2025.
For more information, contact Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator, at rchang@co.morris.nj.us or call 973-829-8138.
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Photo 1: The historic Orchard Street Cemetery Gatehouse in Dover, funded in 2024. Standing in front of the gatehouse from left to right: Joe Barilla, Director of the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation; Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw; Keith Titus, Vice President of the Orchard Street Gatehouse Historical Association; Dover Mayor James Dodd; Paul Wood, Gatehouse Historical Association Recording Secretary and Historian; Barbara Wood; and Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen.
Photo 2: The Seward House in Mount Olive, funded in 2024. Members of the Historic Preservation Trust Fund Committee from left to right: Ray Chang (staff), Joseph Falco, Martha Wells, Alyssa Ercan (staff), Ann Granbery, Edward Hanington, Richard Conklin, Amy Curry, Gary DeBiasse, Jill Gotthelf and Lawrence Fast.
