Heritage Capital Projects Fund
The Washington State Historical Society is pleased to announce the Heritage Capital Projects 2017-2019 Prioritized Projects List!
The Legislature uses this list as they determine the 2017-2019 state capital budget. This is a ranking and is not considered a promise of funding unless appropriated in the Legislature’s final budget. These projects have been ranked by a peer-review panel for inclusion in the budget request the Washington State Historical Society forwards to the State Legislature. This year, WSHS is requesting a total of $8,985,520.91 for the projects listed.
For questions about this list or the Heritage Capital Projects program, please contact Janet Rogerson (janet.rogerson@wshs.wa.gov) or Lissa Kramer (lissa.kramer@wshs.wa.gov).
Click here to read the 2017-19 Prioritized Projects List (PDF)
Grant Timeline
- February 2016 – Grant application materials available
- March 2016 – Application workshops
- May 19, 2016 – Applications due (no exceptions)
- May – June, 2016 - HCP staff preliminary review and determination of eligibility
- June – July 2016 – Advisory Panel review/evaluation/scoring of applications
- August 2016 – Open public meeting for development of prioritized list of HCP projects
- August 2016 – List totaling not more than $10 million is forwarded to the WSHS Director for review
- September 2016 – List is included in WSHS Capital Budget request and submitted to the governor
- December 2016 (estimated) – Governor releases proposed state Capital Budget
- June 2017 (estimated) – 2017-2019 state Capital Budget signed into law
- July 1, 2017 (estimated) – Announcement of grant awards (if any)
- September 2017 - (estimated) – Appropriated funds allocated to the WSHS by the state Office of Financial Management
- Grant contracts will be executed as soon as possible after the award. Only those project expenditures incurred from the date of contract execution may be eligible for reimbursement.
- June 30, 2019 – Expiration of contract and grant funding without additional legislative action
Historic Colville Indian Agency building, ca. 1868
Heritage Capital Projects Overview
The State of Washington has a rich heritage in historical sites and artifacts. These historical treasures have the potential to provide life-long learning opportunities for citizens of the state, yet many are not readily accessible to its citizens. While heritage organizations and facilities exist that can connect individuals with heritage, challenging capital needs may prevent them from reaching their potential. The Washington state legislature formally recognized these facts and determined that there was a need to support the capital needs of heritage organizations and facilities. With passage of RCW 27.34.330 - Heritage Capital Projects in 1995, the ongoing Heritage Capital Projects program was established to support the capital needs and facilities that interpret and preserve Washington’s heritage. The Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) was authorized to establish the processes and rules of the program, and has administered it continuously since that time. The program is housed at the Washington State History Museum in Downtown Tacoma.
Through the competitive Heritage Capital Projects program, the state may provide up to ten million dollars of grants each biennium to reimburse up to 1/3 of the eligible costs of selected heritage capital projects, and grantees must provide at least 2/3 match. To meet the legislative intent of the HCP, applicants must be eligible entities with eligible projects. They must demonstrate significant public benefit in the form of heritage interpretation and preservation, involve property that will be held a minimum of 13 years beyond the completion of the project, and have the readiness and capacity to undertake and complete their capital project within the biennium. Applications for 2017-2019 funding from the will be posted on-line in late February, 2016, and due in mid-May (specific date to be announced).
Heritage Capital Projects Fund History
The State of Washington has affirmed that Washington has a "rich heritage in historical sites and artifacts that have the potential to provide life-long learning opportunities for citizens of the state" and that "many of these historical treasures are not readily accessible to citizens, and that there is a need to create an ongoing program to support the capital needs of heritage organizations and facilities."
To meet this need, the Heritage Capital Projects Fund (HCPF) competitive grant program was authorized in 1995 (RCW 27.34.330 - Heritage Capital Projects). The purpose of HCPF is to "support capital needs and facilities of heritage organizations, tribal governments, public development authorities, and local government agencies that interpret and preserve Washington's history and heritage." (Chapter 255-02 - WAC - Capital Projects Fund). To meet the legislative intent of the HCPF, applicants for HCPF grants must be eligible entities with eligible projects.
Since 1997, the Heritage Capital Projects Fund has supported local leaders in communities across the state as they have worked to preserve our heritage, interpret its meaning, and serve the public. HCPF grants have assisted hundreds of local heritage projects, resulting in the construction of new museums and interpretive centers, additions to heritage facilities, improvements to archives and museum collection storage, preservation and reuse of historic structures, restoration of historic ships, and rehabilitation of historic railroad equipment.
For more information about the Heritage Capital Projects Fund, contact Janet Rogerson (janet.rogerson@wshs.wa.gov) or Lissa Kramer (lissa.kramer@wshs.wa.gov) at 253-798-5909.