The Tennessee Wars Commission and Tennessee Historical Commission have announced they will begin accepting grant applications on October 2nd for both the Tennessee Wars Commission Fund grant program and the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund grant program.

The Tennessee Wars Commission Grant Fund provides funding to protect and interpret Tennessee’s historic military sites ranging from the French and Indian War through the American Civil War era. Since 1994, this grant program has funded over one hundred different projects preserving, protecting, and interpreting the military heritage of Tennessee and Tennesseans. “The Wars Commission grant fund is an opportunity for a wide variety of communities to enhance war-related sites and further our collective knowledge of these historical events,” said Wars Commission Director of Programs Tim Hyder. While matching funding is not mandatory for TWC Grant funds, it is highly encouraged.

The Tennessee Civil Wars Sites Preservation Fund, begun in 2013, is a key source of matching funding for the preservation of properties associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Additionally, grants can assist in funding the acquisition and protection of Underground Railroad sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, or eligible for designation as a National Historic Landmark. “Since its debut in 2013, nearly $820,000 in funding from this program has helped save over 120 acres of battlefield properties in the state,” notes Tennessee Historical Commission Executive Director Patrick McIntyre. Last year, over $210,000 in TCWSPF grants were used to preserve 44 acres of core battlefield associated with the siege and battle at Fort Donelson, February 12-15, 1862.

Applicants for the TCWSPF grant must be a 501©3 non-profit, and only projects associated with the 38 most significant Civil War battlefields in the state (as defined by the National Park Service report) or Underground Railroad sites are eligible.  After review, the applications will be scored, rated and ranked by staff members of the THC or Underground Railroad sites are eligible.  After review, the applications will be scored, rated and ranked by staff members of the THC and TWC. The full Historical Commission will then have final voting approval of eligible grant projects. This grant will pay a 50 percent match and the grant recipient must provide the remaining 50 percent of the cost as matching funds from a non-state source.

Completed applications for either grant program must be submitted by December 1, 2017.

Applications for grants may be obtained by contacting Timothy Hyder, program director of the Tennessee Wars Commission: 

Tim.Hyder@tn.gov, 615-770-1095, 2941 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214.