Preservation Texas has announced that fifteen Black history sites will be invited to submit proposals for preservation funding from its new $750,000 Texas Rural African-American Heritage Grants Fund.  The fifteen projects include historic churches, schools, lodge halls, and a commercial building, each with unique preservation challenges. “Preservation Texas developed this grant program to support the needs of endangered rural African-American historic places,” said Evan Thompson, executive director. “We saw a critical need for funding and… More »

The grant application deadline has passed. We look forward to reviewing the grant submissions that were received. Preservation Texas is pleased to announce that we are now accepting Preliminary Applications (the link will take you to Submittable.com) for our new Texas Rural African-American Heritage Grants Program. This program will provide matching grants of up to $75,000 to support the stabilization, preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of at least ten rural African-American historic buildings in Texas that had… More »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2021 Contact: NewsMedia @ nps.gov Info @ preservationtexas.org WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) has announced the award of $750,000 to Preservation Texas for its Texas Rural African-American Heritage Grants program.  Preservation Texas is one of 11 recipients in 10 states to receive a share of $7.27 million in Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants to support the preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across the country. The Preservation Texas program will create the largest African-American-focused historic preservation grants program in Texas history. “This National Park Service program not only supports historic preservation, but also fosters economic development in rural communities,” said NPS Deputy Director… More »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 25, 2021 Preservation Texas, the statewide non-profit historic preservation advocacy and education organization, is proud to announce the rehabilitation of the Meadows Building in Dallas, Texas as one of only nine projects being recognized with its 2021 Preservation Texas Honor Award.  The nearly 70-year-old mid-20th century building is a Dallas landmark. The award for the Meadows Building was presented by PT board member Ron Siebler at an event at the Meadows… More »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2021 Preservation Texas, the statewide non-profit historic preservation advocacy and education organization, is proud to announce the rehabilitation of the Robert L. Oliver English-German School in Cuero, Texas as one of only nine projects being recognized with its 2021 Preservation Texas Honor Award.  The nearly 150-year-old school was previously included on the Preservation Texas Most Endangered Places list in 2017. The award for the English-German School was presented by PT board… More »

Preservation Texas has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Fondren Fund for Texas of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to complete a preservation plan and engineering assessment of the Old First Baptist Church, an African-American landmark in San Marcos constructed in 1908. Preservation Texas has retained Post Oak Preservation Solutions and Sparks Engineering, Inc. to undertake this project.  The preservation plan will guide the use of a previously-awarded Partners in Preservation grant of… More »

Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2021 Preservation Texas Honor Awards!    

This is an update on historic preservation-related legislative activity during the 87th Texas Legislative Session. Legislation is being considered in Austin that impact historic district designation, county funding for preservation, tax credits, markers, monuments, local tax appraisals, Main Street, and related issues. The bill filing deadline was March 12, and bills are being assigned to House and Senate committees and public hearings are being scheduled. Your input is valuable to our democratic process. Keep informed… More »

This Advocacy Alert concerns Senate Bill 10.  The bill has been brought to our attention by community and organizational partners including the Texas Downtown Association (TDA) and is being referred to as the “community censorship bill.” According to the TDA, this bill would prohibit cities from hiring lobbyists to advocate for their communities in the State Capitol.  The bill’s language could also prohibit municipalities from supporting statewide and local nonprofit associations that engage in advocacy… More »