Round XIII Grant Cycle
We are pleased to announce that the 88th Texas Legislature allocated $45 million and increased the grant cap per county for the 2024-25 Round XIII grant cycle of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP). The program may award grants totaling up to $10 million per county toward full restoration construction, the development of architectural construction documents, or to address critical needs that endanger the building or its occupants. The Round XIII grant application materials are now available! Completed digital applications are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 2024, and awards will be announced at the Commission’s quarterly meeting on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Grant Application Instructions
Eligibility
To participate in the THCPP and be eligible to receive grant funding, a project must meet the following criteria:
- A building that serves or has served as a county courthouse
- A building that is over 50 years old or is certified as worthy of preservation
- A building that has a current master plan approved by the THC. View approved master plans (PDF).
Current Grant Application Timeline
February 5, 2024 | DRAFT New Master Plans for Program Eligibility Due by 5 p.m. |
February 5, 2024 | DRAFT 95% Architectural Plans for Shovel Ready Status Due by 5 p.m. |
Mid-February 2024 | Grant Application Materials Available |
March 1, 2024 | Courthouse Project Reviewers Provide Comments on DRAFT Master Plans |
March 1, 2024 | Courthouse Project Reviewers Provide Comments on DRAFT 95% Architectural Plans |
April 5, 2024 | FINAL Master Plans and Architectural Plans Due |
April 12, 2024 | Orientation and Online Training Available (Must Be Completed Before Application Deadline) |
April 22, 2024 | Notification of Approved THCPP Master Plan and Round XIII Eligibility |
April 22, 2024 | Notification of Approved 95% Architectural Plans & Specifications and Shovel Ready Status for Additional Points |
May 13, 2024 | Grant Application Deadline 5 p.m. |
TBD | Architecture Committee Meeting for Public Comment |
July 26, 2024 | Round XIII Grant Awards Announced |
Getting Started with a Master Plan
To participate in the grant program, applicants must have prepared a Master Plan for preserving and maintaining their historic county courthouse. Hiring a professional preservation architect to assist in this process will help county representatives evaluate the current state of the courthouse and set priorities for rehabilitating and maintaining the building.
A good master plan includes a history of the building, historic photos and drawings, a thorough evaluation of existing conditions and a plan for the future, with an estimated budget for all the proposed work. The master plan must be submitted to the THC for review and may either be accepted, with suggested changes made and resubmitted, or rejected. Proposed work must comply with the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The document is a general plan of action and does not include detailed construction plans and specifications.
Master Plan Resources:
- Master Plan Outline & Format (PDF)
- Finding and Hiring Qualified Historic Preservation Consultants (PDF)
- Preservation Consultants for Previous and Current THCPP Projects (PDF)
- Accepted and Rejected Master Plans (PDF)
- Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
2023 Courthouse Advisory Committee Recommendations
The Texas Historical Commission convened a Courthouse Advisory Committee that met in April and May 2023 to examine specific aspects of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP). Approaching its 25-year anniversary, the program has attracted more than 140 participants and awarded more than $360 million to counties to fund the full restorations of 78 courthouses and provide smaller grants to assist with emergency and planning projects. The Commission appointed a Committee on February 1, 2023 to advise the Commission on improving construction quality to limit the number of courthouses returning for funding following their full restorations, examine the priorities of the THCPP by identifying buildings eligible for grant funding, and refine its grant project selection process. County judges and commissioners, facilities managers, a representative from the Texas Association of Counties, THC commissioners, preservation architects, and contractors comprised the Committee. The Committee met virtually on April 4 and April 12, 2023 to discuss the topics and make initial recommendations on how to address concerns, and on May 24, 2023 to finalize the Committee’s recommendations. Committee members reviewed and approved final revisions to draft recommendations, and the Commission adopted the final recommendations at its July 2023 Quarterly Meeting. Changes based on the CAC Recommendations will be integrated into the program and the Round XIII grant cycle and application material will reflect these changes.
2023 Courthouse Advisory Committee Recommendations (Approved)
Previous Grant Application Timeline, Procedures, and Forms
Applications are evaluated and grants awarded based on factors related to the specific building, the project proposal, and community support. Factors and weighting are listed for the previous application round below.
Regional Reviewers
Each county is assigned a THCPP staff member based on geographic region. Please please contact the program staff member assigned to your county, or contact the Program Coordinator Susan Tietz for general questions.