Preservation Maryland joined with the Coalition for American Heritage along with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Alliance of Museums, and others in signing onto a joint letter to Congress in support of funding for the Save America’s Treasures program.
The Federal Save America’s Treasures grants program began in 1999 and helps preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation’s rich heritage to future generations of Americans. Since 1999, there have been almost 4,000 requests for funding totaling $1.54 billion. In response to these requests, $315,152,000 was awarded to 1,287 recipients.
The program has inspired countless Americans to make remarkable discoveries in their own communities, while leveraging more than $377 million in private investment and contributing more than 16,000 jobs to local and state economies for the rescue, rehabilitation and reuse of structures, and the conservation of artwork, documents and artifacts.
Funding for the program comes from revenue generated from Outer Continental Shelf oil leases via the Historic Preservation Fund—not tax dollars—and requires dollar-for-dollar private matching funds.
Maryland Tobacco Barn, previous recipient of Save America’s Treasures grant funding.
In Maryland, the program has supported many projects, including an ambitious Tobacco Barn restoration program administered by Preservation Maryland which helped to restore nearly 35 historic barns in Southern Maryland.
After a seven-year lapse in funding, the Congress allocated $5 million for the program in FY17, and $13 million in FY18. The joint letter calls on the Congress to continue to support this program and provide a modest increase in funding at $15 million for the upcoming fiscal year.