PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Board of Supervisors established the Historical Heritage Grant Program in 1990 to promote historic preservation and the awareness of significant cultural, historical, and archaeological resources within Santa Clara County. Funding is provided through the dedication of a portion of the County Park Charter Fund to the Historical Heritage Grant Program.

WHO MAY APPLY?
Non-profit corporations (with 501(c)(3) certification) and local governments within the geographical limits of Santa Clara County are eligible to apply for grant funds.  Grant recipients must have liability insurance.

PRE-APPLICATION WORKSHOP
Staff strongly recommends that applicants attend the annual pre-application workshop hosted by staff, even if applicants have previously submitted an application or attended a previous workshop.

WHAT IS ELIGIBLE?
Eligible projects must involve the development of real property, as opposed to personal property, for Santa Clara County park purposes.  Real property, as defined in California law, consists of land and things affixed to land that cannot be moved.  The real property on which the project is located must be owned or operated by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department OR located within a public park, so designated by general plan and/or zoning district, within the geographical limits of Santa Clara County.  The real property on which the project is located must be continually used for park purposes for a minimum of 20 years and be open to all Santa Clara County residents on an equal basis.

Eligible projects must involve a designated historic resource (landmark or contributing resource to a historic district or the equivalent) protected by a local historic preservation ordinance.  If the historic resource is not locally designated, the historic resource must be eligible for designation under a local historic preservation ordinance and designated by the associated local government prior to the completion of the project.  A qualified historic resources consultant must determine eligibility by documenting and evaluating the property on state inventory forms (DPR 523 series) against the criteria for (landmark) designation as determined by the associated local government's historic preservation ordinance.

Types of eligible projects include the stabilization, preservation, rehabilitation, interpretation or restoration of designated or eligible historic resources.  Projects that involve the interpretation of historic resources must involve capital improvements, such as signage and exhibits, rather than reports or studies.

If the proposed project involves an improvement proposed in a Santa Clara County-owned park, contact the Parks and Recreation Department.  Staff cannot accept grant applications for such projects unless approval has already been obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department and/or the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors is not obligated to fund any grant projects, even if the application has been deemed eligible for funding and/or the Historical Heritage Commission recommends that funding in some amount be awarded.

WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE?
Private projects are not eligible.  The County Park Charter Fund precludes the use of funds for property that is not owned or operated by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department OR located within a public park, so designated by general plan and/or zoning district, within the geographical limits of Santa Clara County.

Proposed projects at the planning and feasibility stage, and services connected with such projects, including hiring a consultant to conduct survey and evaluation work, to prepare conditions assessments or historic reports, feasibility studies, etc., are not eligible because the County Park Charter Fund requires that funding will result in the development of real property for Santa Clara County park purposes.  Staff recommends the applicant carry out this type of work prior to applying for grant funds.  The applicant may then apply for a grant to carry out the professional services recommendations.

The County Park Charter Fund precludes the use of funds for personal property, as defined in California law (moveable objects not permanently attached to real property), such as equipment, computers, furniture, display cabinets, interior accessories, publications, etc.

Grant funds cannot be used to develop, or to support, areas dedicated to operation, maintenance, or administrative activities, such as work on a portion of a facility dedicated to staff or private use (offices, storage areas, events, parties, etc).  These functions may exist within the facility, but the grant program cannot fund work items specifically in these areas.  Grant funding must be applied to areas of the facility that are open (or visible) to all Santa Clara County residents on an equal and permanent basis.

Projects that are not ready to proceed at the time of application are ineligible.  Previously funded projects that are incomplete at the time of application are not eligible.  Projects that do not have all the necessary funding in place at the time of application are ineligible.  Grant funds cannot be used as seed money to leverage additional monies in a future fund-raising campaign.  Projects that do not have the demonstrated capacity to be completed within three years are ineligible.

LOW FUNDING PRIORITIES
Low funding priorities are projects that are limited to state or federal code compliance, infrastructure improvements (utilities, landscaping, signage), reconstruction (replica of historic building no longer extant), new construction (additions), or interior finishes and are not part of an overall rehabilitation or restoration project.  In addition, projects and applicants that have been previously funded by the grant program may be considered a low funding priority.

APPLICATION PACKAGE

For additional information and the entire application package, download the below Historical Heritage Grant Program manual and appendices:

Grant Manual
Appendix A: Application Checklist
Appendix B: Application Form (MS Word Document)
Appendix C: Evaluation Factors
Appendix C1: Score Sheet
Appendix D: Sample Project Agreement
Appendix E: Sample Resolution

For more information, contact either of the following staff:

David J. Pierce
Senior Management Analyst, Grants Program Manager
County of Santa Clara
Parks and Recreation Department
298 Garden Hill Drive
Los Gatos, CA 95032-7669
Voice: (408) 355-2238
Fax: (408) 355-2290
Email: david.pierce@prk.sccgov.org

Dana Peak
Historic Preservation Program Manager
County of Santa Clara
Planning Office
70 W. Hedding Street, East Wing, 7th Floor
San Jose, CA  95110
(408) 299-5798
Email:  Dana.Peak@pln.sccgov.org