California Heritage Fund (CHF) Grant Program

PROPOSITION 12 - CALIFORNIA HERITAGE FUND GRANT PROGRAM

CALIFORNIA HERITAGE FUND GRANT REIMBURSEMENT SUSPENDED

THE REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTIVE CALIFORNIA HERITAGE FUND GRANT PROJECTS FUNDED BY PROPOSITION 12 – The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 -- HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AS OF DECEMBER 17, 2008.

The Pooled Money Investment Board voted on that date to freeze all bond-related payments, including those funded out of Proposition 12, such as the CA Heritage Fund, and out of Proposition 40, which includes the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Fund, administered by the California State Library. A few of the CHF grant projects also have Proposition 40 CCHEF grants and/or CA State Parks’ Local Assistance Grants, so they are doubly or even triply affected by the state bond freeze.

State Grant Managers were informed via Budget Letter 08-33 that the Pool Money Investment Board had voted on December 17th to freeze all bond-related payments. This until now little known State Board funds bond programs and projects until state bonds are sold. Unfortunately, the State’s budget crisis has substantially reduced buyers’ interest in acquiring California bonds, which caused the Board to run low on money, so funding of certain bond projects was halted.

The severity of this action reflects the enormity of the current state budget crisis and until the matter is resolved, we will be unable to indicate when or if disbursements will resume. We very much regret the hardship this places on our grantees, and we hope for a quick resolution to ensure the successful completion of your projects.

At this time, OHP has 24 active CHF grant projects out of the 51 grants in various stages of completion. A few actually have project work completed but have not yet submitted Completed Project forms and the Request for Final Reimbursement.

During this unusual period, OHP will continue to process your payment requests and submit them to State Parks’ Accounting Office, where they will be held until (and if) the freeze on payments has been lifted.

Please see the below links for additional information and guidance:

SHPO LETTER TO GRANT RECIPIENTS - 6 JANUARY 2009

OGALS - BOND PAYMENT SUSPENSION INFORMATION

OGALS - FAQs

CCHE - FROZEN FUNDS UPDATE

DEPARTMENT of FINANCE BUDGET LETTER 08-33

Click to view: Images of First and Second Cycle Grant Projects

The sum of $8,506,000 in grant funds in the CHF under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000, was available statewide on a competitive basis for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, restoration, and interpretation of archeological and historical resource preservation projects.

All grant applications were reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in consultation with the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) Review Committee. The State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) concurred with the SHPO's selections.

May 3, 2002 - FIRST CYCLE AWARDS TOTALED $4,000,000.
The SHPO selected thirty (30) projects for the first cycle of grant funding (March 1, 2002 deadline).
Click to view: List of First Cycle Grant Recipients (PDF File, 8.27 KB)

November 2002 - SECOND CYCLE AWARDS TOTALED $4,506,000.
OHP received 58 applications for the Second Cycle (deadline August 2, 2002) and selected twenty-four (24) projects for grant funding. The Second Cycle deadline was the last and final opportunity to submit applications for funding from the Park Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 12).
Click to view: List of Second Cycle Grant Recipients (PDF File, 19.0 KB)

Eligible Project Criteria
A product, facility, or project designed to preserve a historical resource that is listed, or formally determined eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places, California Register of Historical Resources, or designated as a California Historical Landmark or California Point of Historical Interest.

Eligible Applicants
Cities, Counties, Districts (see Procedural Guide - Definitions), Local Agencies formed for park purposes pursuant to a joint powers agreement between two or more entities, nonprofit organizations (see Procedural Guide - Definitions), and Federally recognized California Indian tribes.

Match Requirement: Applicant must provide at least 50% of the total project cost as match funding.

OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF REAL PROPERTY
Information about other grant programs for historic preservation of real property may be found at the following web addresses:

Getty Grants to Conserve the Architectural Heritage of Los Angeles (Only for historic properties in Los Angeles County)

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Communities Program (Contact your local community development department)

Save America's Treasures (Federal funds for nationally significant properties)

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