The City of Austin Economic Development Department announced more than $2 million in grant funds to preserve historic designated places in Austin through the Heritage Preservation Grant. These grant awards will be used for capital, planning, educational, or marketing projects to promote tourism through preservation activities. Successful projects will restore historic cultural assets and promote history-informing stories associated with Austin’s diverse history. All projects must be frequented by and accessible to tourists and convention delegates.
“The places and stories that represent Austin’s history demonstrate an enduring legacy of community, culture, and history while investing in their physical stability,” said Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Executive Director of the Economic Development Department. “We are honored to award grantees with the preservation resources necessary to advance these projects.”
Austin City Council approved the grant awards on February 9, 2023. Below is the full list of 2023 grantees and preservation grant projects.
2023 Heritage Preservation Grants
Hillside Farmacy: $29,880
ADA-Compliant Pathways and Parking
Austin Parks Foundation: $30,000
Henry G. Madison Log Cabin Structural Improvements Plan
Downtown Austin Development Corporation: $30,000
Heritage of Republic Square Programming and Events
Pollen Architecture: $30,000
Friends of the Ney Museum Comprehensive Restoration Plan Update
Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Inc: $40,000
Real Places Conference
Indie Meme.Org: $45,600
Indie Meme Asian American Historical Archival Project at Austin History Center
Housing Authority of the City of Austin: $82,000
Pathways at Rosewood Courts Tourism Kiosks: Amplification of African American History in Austin
Neill-Cochran House Museum: $109,000
Museum Slave Quarters Restoration
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue: $137,293
HVAC Repairs due to water damage and Exterior Site Improvements
Leadership Austin: $138,875
Walk of the Town Multilingual Interactive Tour Development and Promotions Phase II
E4 Youth, Inc & RWHC Historic District: $150,000
Rogers Washington Holy Cross Historic District Mixed Reality Tour Development
Broken Spoke: $175,000
Roof Repair
Flower Hill Foundation: $215,132
Restoration and Rehabilitation Project
Huston-Tillotson University: $217,848
Old Administration Building Restoration
German Texan Heritage Society: $240,684
Historic Staircase and Reconstruction
Austin Theatre Alliance: $250,000
Paramount Theatre Exterior East Wall Rehabilitation
Preservation Austin: $250,000
McFarland House Renovation
Funding for the Heritage Preservation Grant Program, which is managed by the Economic Development Department’s Heritage Tourism Division, comes from 15% of the Heritage Preservation Fund as approved by City Council in Resolution No. 20181004-033. This year’s grant featured new criteria informed by the 2022 Cultural Funding Review Process by the Economic Development Department, which was a three-year public process to center equity and inclusion in the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) investments in arts, heritage, and music. These 17 awardees of the Heritage Preservation Grant represent the first commitments of the Cultural Funding Review Process. The Economic Development Department acknowledges the extraordinary cultural and creative talent that exists in the city contributing to Austin’s economic success and to the city’s identity.
In upcoming months, additional programs will launch to support arts & culture in Austin including Live Music Fund Event Program, Elevate, and Nexus. These new funding programs are structured to encourage new talent, support established cultural producers, and invest in the development of diverse cultural institutions that are rooted in and representative of the communities they serve.
For more information on the Heritage Preservation Grant or other upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd.
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About the City of Austin Economic Development Department
The City of Austin Economic Development Department supports business growth, creative industries, and local communities. These programs build an equitable, sustainable economy to improve the lives of all Austin residents. To learn more about helpful resources, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd and subscribe to our newsletter. Connect with us @AustinEconDev on Facebook, @AustinEconDev on Twitter, and @AustinEconDev on YouTube.
