Courthouse Preservation Program Receives $20 Million

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) received $20 million from the 81st Texas Legislature for Round VI of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, which provides partial matching grants to Texas counties for the restoration of their historic county courthouses. Since its inception, the program has awarded $207 million to counties throughout Texas. To date more than half of Texas’ 234 surviving historic county courthouses are participating in this matching grant program.
Then-Gov. George W. Bush and the Texas Legislature created the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program in 1999 with an initial appropriation of $50 million. The THC distributed $42.4 million in matching grants to 19 counties in Round I of the program in May 2000; an additional $7 million to 28 counties during Round II; $48 million to 25 counties during Round III; and $43 million to 28 counties in Round IV of the program.
In 2005, the Legislature did not allocate state funds for courthouse restorations but rather instructed the Texas Department of Transportation to set aside $80 million in federal money in the Transportation Enhancement Program for courthouses. Federal officials, however, did not approve the plan.
In January 2008 the THC announced Round V grant recipients, awarding matching grants totaling nearly $56 million to 17 Texas counties to help preserve their historic courthouses.
The estimated remaining need to restore the 124 courthouses that have submitted approved master plans is approximately $197 million in state funds.
To participate in the grant program, counties must submit a Master Preservation Plan for preserving and maintaining their historic county courthouse. Once submitted, this plan will be reviewed and may either be accepted, returned for resubmission with suggested changes, or rejected.
For more information, go to http://www.thc.state.tx.us/courthouses/chthcpp.shtml.