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).
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
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.
Grant Application Instructions
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 15, 2024 | On-Demand Pre-Application Training Video Link (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 |
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.