Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants

 

To assist States and local communities acquire and preserve threatened battlefield land from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. This grant program enables the permanent protection of historic battlefield lands through fee simple acquisition or through the purchase of an interest in the land through a preservation covenant. State or local government entities are eligible to apply, and nonprofit organizations often support the applicant agency in the battlefield preservation effort. The grants require a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. The ABPP administers Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants using funds appropriated from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To be eligible for acquisition, land must be at least 50% within the boundary of one of the 384 battlefields identified in the 1993 Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields, or one of the 677 battlefields identified in the 2007 Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study.

Active 15.928 National Park Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Thirty-two (32) grants were awarded to acquire lands or easements on lands related to American battlefields in order to provide protection in perpetuity.
Fiscal Year 2018 Thirty-two (32) grants were awarded to acquire lands or easements on lands related to American battlefields in order to provide protection in perpetuity.
Fiscal Year 2019 Twelve Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants funded the acquisition of more than 568 acres in significant battlefield in 6 states.
Fiscal Year 2020 Thirty awards comprising more than $9,000,000 were made for the preservation of more than 1500 acres of battlefield lands.
Fiscal Year 2021 Over 20 grants were awarded for the acquisition and preservation of historic battlefields.
Fiscal Year 2022 In FY2022, the program awarded grants for a total of $13,806,437 that protected over 930 acres of battlefield. 54 U.S.C. §308103 Battlefield Acquisition Program State and local governments. Private nonprofit organizations seeking to acquire battlefield land or easements must apply in partnership with the State or local government agency that has jurisdiction over the proposed parcel. The government agency may then sub-grant the Federal funds to the nonprofit organization. State and local governments (local communities, nonprofits, and battlefield landowners) benefit. Prior to the expenditure of grant funds for the purchase of real property, a current appraisal must be obtained. Appraisal preparation, documentation and reporting must be made in conformance with the standards and practices of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions (UASFLA), as codified in 49 CFR 24.103, and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP Standards 1 and 2) published by the Interagency Land Acquisition Conference. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Informal pre-application coordination with ABPP staff is highly recommended. Coordination with appropriate State Historic Preservation Office(s) is required for National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Review. The ABPP’s Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Section 106 Review, available on the ABPP’s website https://www.nps.gov/subjects/battlefields/upload/ABPP-Nationwide-PA_FINAL-Executed.pdf for this grant program must be consulted prior to applying. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Funding announcements for this program, along with registration procedures, application packages and instructions, points of contact, and procedures for submitting applications will be available on www.grants.gov and the ABPP's website www.nps.gov/abpp. Applicants are responsible for initiating the Section 106 Review with the appropriate SHPO and consulting parties prior to submitting a complete application. Proposals received in response to announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available throughout the year. The Director of the National Park Service makes awards to approved applicants. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award. If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds. Reviewers evaluate applications according to the following considerations: -Priority of the battlefield land as defined in the Reports. Foremost consideration is given to application packages for acquisition proposals at battlefields defined as Priority I or II sites in the CWSAC 1993 Report or the ABPP 2007 Rev War/War of 1812 Report. -Whether the proposed acquisition parcel lies within ABPP-defined Battlefield Boundary Areas and outside the legislative boundaries of any associated National Parks -Availability of required matching funds -Acquisition schedule -Threat to the battlefield land -More specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov. Grants are available for the fee simple acquisition of land, or for the acquisition of permanent, protective interests in land (easements), at Civil War battlefields listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission's (CWSAC) 1993 "Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields" and at Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefields listed in the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) 2007 "Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States." Funds may not be used to acquire land or interests in land within the legislative boundary of a unit of the National Park System. Grantees or subgrantees must provide for the appropriate public access (entry or viewable from public right-of-way) to and enjoyment of any lands or interests in lands acquired with assistance from this program, subject to necessary and reasonable measures on the part of the beneficiary to protect the historic features of the battlefield from damage or loss. Land acquired with these funds must be preserved in perpetuity. In any case where a local government or a private non-profit organization acquires land or an interest in land with assistance from this program, it must convey an acceptable perpetual protective easement on the land to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or other organization acceptable to the National Park Service and SHPO. Performance Reports: Program Performance Report. Not applicable. Per 2 CFR Part 200.333 - 200.337. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 50% Recipient/non-federal cost share is required under this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Battlefield land, or interests in land, are purchased immediately after receipt of funds, as soon as possible after award, usually no later than one year after receipt of funds. Periods of Performance for awarded grants is typically 3 years to allow for purchase and recording of required easement or preservation agreement. Funds will be released through ASAP. Battlefield land or interests in land are purchased after receipt of grant, usually no later than one year after receipt of after the grant is awarded. Periods of Performance for awarded grants is typically 3 years to allow for purchase and recording of required easement or preservation agreement. None/Not specified. James Modrick
1849 C Street NW
Mail Stop 7228
Washington, DC 20240 USA
james_modrick@nps.gov
Phone: 202-354-2037 https://www.nps.gov/subjects/battlefields/american-battlefield-protection-program-grants.htm 14-5035-0-1-303 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$13,806,437.00; FY 23 est $14,000,000.00; FY 24 est $14,000,000.00; FY 21$5,416,626.00; FY 20$9,742,326.00; FY 19$3,060,056.00; FY 18$10,601,415.00; FY 17$9,516,237.00; - Range: $28,000.00 to $2,000,000 Average: $200,000.00 A more complete description of grant requirements can be found in the ABPP 2018 application guidelines. The 2018 guidelines and application form are available online at grants.gov. The American Battlefield Protection Program Act of 2009 (16 USC 469k-1), authorizes this grant program. This legislation allows Land and Water Conservation Fund monies to be used to provide the Federal share of the cost of acquiring interests in eligible Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield land. It requires that any interest in land acquired under this program shall be subject to section 6(f)(3) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-8(f)(3)). Section 6(f)(3) requires that any land acquired with these funds be preserved and not converted to other uses without the express written consent of the Secretary of the Interior. Fiscal Year 2017 Since 1998, the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program has been apportioned over $113 million; leveraged over $141 million; and protected over 29,200 acres at 110 battlefields in 19 states.
Fiscal Year 2018 Since 1998, the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program has been apportioned over $113 million; leveraged over $141 million; and protected over 29,200 acres at 110 battlefields in 19 states.
Fiscal Year 2019 North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, acquired 50.58 acres of the Averasborough and Bentonville battlefields, which are both significant Civil War Battlefields. Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board is helping protect 280 acres of America’s Civil War battlefields in West Virginia threatened with damage or destruction by urban and suburban development with the acquisition of an easement on a portion of the Summit Point Battlefield.
Fiscal Year 2020 Kentucky Battlefield: Perryville (Steedman Tract) Recipient: Boyle County Fiscal Court Nonprofit Partner: American Battlefield Trust Priority: I Acreage: 51.4 Federal Amount Awarded: $278,746.50 Non-Federal Amount Leveraged: $278,746.50 Type of Purchase: Fee Simple Preservation Letter Agreement: Commonwealth of Kentucky Battlefield: Perryville (White Tract) Recipient: Boyle County Fiscal Court Nonprofit Partner: American Battlefield Trust Priority: I Acreage: 128.5 Federal Amount Awarded: $520,261.50 Non-Federal Amount Leveraged: $520,261.50 Type of Purchase: Fee Simple Preservation Letter Agreement: Commonwealth of Kentucky Mississippi Battlefield: Vicksburg (Varner Tract) Recipient: Mississippi Department of Archives and History Nonprofit Partner: Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign Priority: I Acreage: 1.87 Federal Amount Awarded: $144,812.50 Non-Federal Amount Leveraged: $144,812.50 Type of Purchase: Fee Simple Easement Holder: Mississippi Department of Archives and History North Carolina Battlefield: Bentonville (Denning Tract) Recipient: North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Nonprofit Partner: American Battlefield Trust Priority: I Acreage: 143 Federal Amount Awarded: $355,675.00 Non-Federal Amount Leveraged: $380,675.00 Type of Purchase: Fee Simple Preservation Letter of Agreement: North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Battlefield: Bentonville (Finley/Westbrook Tract) Recipient: North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Nonprofit Partner: American Battlefield Trust Priority: I Acreage: 3.327 Federal Amount Awarded: $21,875.00 Non-Federal Amount Leveraged: $21,875.00 Type of Purchase: Fee Simple Preservation Letter of Agreement: North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Fiscal Year 2022 Awards assist state and local government entities, often working with a preservation partner organization, to aquire permanent preservation easement on properties with battlefield study boundaries.