Forgive me, I'm late in acknowledging the April 30, 2014 announcement of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program Round VIII Grants. On that date, at its Quarterly Meeting, the Texas Historical Commission announced that "The communities to receive emergency grant funds in Round VIII are the counties of Callahan, Dickens, Dimmit, Houston, Hunt, Jefferson, Karnes, Lamar, Lee, Limestone, Lipscomb, Lynn, Polk, Rains, San Saba, Upshur, Wilson and the city of Hidalgo. A total of $5,906,955 was awarded by including reallocated and reserve program funds from previous grant cycles."
"Due to the very limited $4.2 million appropriation made in the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, grants were limited to a maximum $450,000 state share with a 50/50 minimum match requirement. The 24 applications submitted for the Round VIII grant cycle in 2014 total more than $18 million in anticipated project costs."
"The Round VIII emergency grants will address serious building deficiencies including fire and electrical hazards; water leaks in spaces where records are stored; major structural failures of stairs, walls and foundations; replacement of inefficient modern windows; masonry repairs and roof replacement. Many of the state’s more than 230 historic courthouses are in disrepair due to insufficient funding for building care and maintenance. There are 76 participants in the THCPP whose needs for additional program funds are as yet unmet."
The State of Texas has made a significant contribution to saving and maintaining our state's historic county courthouses, but much, much more needs to be done. Any help our readers make in nudging our legislature to increase funding for the THCPP Grants would offer substantial help in this critical effort.
"Due to the very limited $4.2 million appropriation made in the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, grants were limited to a maximum $450,000 state share with a 50/50 minimum match requirement. The 24 applications submitted for the Round VIII grant cycle in 2014 total more than $18 million in anticipated project costs."
"The Round VIII emergency grants will address serious building deficiencies including fire and electrical hazards; water leaks in spaces where records are stored; major structural failures of stairs, walls and foundations; replacement of inefficient modern windows; masonry repairs and roof replacement. Many of the state’s more than 230 historic courthouses are in disrepair due to insufficient funding for building care and maintenance. There are 76 participants in the THCPP whose needs for additional program funds are as yet unmet."
The State of Texas has made a significant contribution to saving and maintaining our state's historic county courthouses, but much, much more needs to be done. Any help our readers make in nudging our legislature to increase funding for the THCPP Grants would offer substantial help in this critical effort.
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