The Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Program (under the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) is a key component in the state's second leading industry – tourism. The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor (LHHC) is one of 12 heritage areas designated by the Governor. The LHHC provides financial and technical assistance to encourage public-private partnerships, cultural conservation, recreation and open space protection and heritage education and interpretation.

WHEN TO APPLY
Grant opportunities are available once each year.
For the 2008-09 cycle, the pre-application deadline is Noon, December 14, 2007. The Special Projects Committee will review these in January.

WHAT CAN THE GRANT BE USED FOR?
Grants can be used for feasibility studies, planning projects, acquisition of land, construction, marketing plans, historic preservation, or enhancements to an existing attraction. If you have not discussed your proposal/application with the LHHC Executive Director, please do so before submitting the pre-application.

Basically, there are two types of grants to apply for: Special Purpose Study and Implementation. A Special Purpose Study grant is used for any type of planning; it requires a 25% cash match. An Implementation Grant is used for acquisition or bricks and mortar type projects; it requires a 50% cash match.

WHO CAN APPLY?
Nonprofit organizations (501c3) or municipalities along the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor.

HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY TO REQUEST?
There are several factors that will help you determine that magic number – and it should not be based on the cash match you have available! One of the first tasks would be to call and speak with the LHHC Executive Director, who will discuss the project with you and help you determine what is needed to get the result you want. Next, you should contact several firms who have experience doing the type of work you need and get a quote.

If you are applying for an Implementation grant, remember that in addition to the materials and labor needed for your project, you also need to include fees of a registered professional PA architect, landscape architect, or engineer who will design and oversee your project. Also, prevailing PA wages are required; each county in PA is different. A Project Closeout Audit by a certified public accountant will be required at the conclusion of the project. Be sure to budget this in as well.

WHAT ABOUT CASH MATCH?
If you are submitting a Special Purpose Study grant application, you will need to account for 25% of the total cost of the Study. If it is an Implementation grant, then 50% of the total project is required. Even though you secure the private local match, once the grant is awarded, ALL money for this project is treated as one, and all state laws and regulations apply to ALL the money. ALL funds should be in a separate, interest-bearing account. You may use other state or federal funds for match. HOWEVER, a minimum amount equal to 5% of the grant amount needs to come from private cash sources (not federal or state); this will be considered part of your local match. Other DCNR funds cannot be used as match against your LHHC grant (because the origin of the LHHC grant is also from DCNR).

I UNDERSTAND THE HERITAGE AREAS PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP EFFORT. HOW CAN MY ORGANIZATION HELP?
Yes, the program is based on partnership. In order to justify the administrative effort on behalf of the LHHC in administering the grant, and also to equalize the support to the heritage area recipients, the LHHC Board of Directors assesses each grant recipient a 10% administrative support fee of the TOTAL project amount (with a $7,500 cap).

Your organization/municipality will be invoiced quarterly based on the project's timeline. The first invoice will arrive along with your first grant check. This assessment fee CANNOT come from the grant money or match. (For example, if you are requesting $25,000 from the LHHC for an implementation grant, then you will need to raise the $25,000 cash match (of which 5% of the grant amount needs to be private money), as well as $5,000 for the LHHC assessment fee).

In addition to the assessment fee mentioned above, you need to think how your organization/municipality can work with the LHHC in other ways as well. The LHHC Executive Director will be glad to share previous examples with you. Obviously, there is a wide variety of partnership examples, based on the organization's capacity.

Before any funds are disbursed, a Partnership Agreement between the grant recipient and the LHHC needs to be executed.

WHEN WILL I LEARN IF WE RECEIVED THE GRANT or NOT?
Shortly after the first of the year, the LHHC Special Projects Committee (made up of LHHC Board Members) will review the pre-applications and determine who will be invited to submit a full application. Some criteria that will be weighed are: Is the project in the LHHC Management Action Plan or the LHHC Interpretive Plan? Has the applicant completed the necessary planning? Does the applicant have the cash match? Is the project on or along the Corridor, or is it 4-7 miles from the Lincoln Highway ? Is the applicant going to be a good partner; do they have a good track record with the LHHC? Has the applicant already received funds from the LHHC; and have they followed through with the scope of work that was outlined in the grant application? How does the applicant propose he/she will demonstrate a partnership with the LHHC? Has the LHHC awarded a number of grants to this applicant in the past, and are there new applicants who also have good projects to fund?

Either way, all applicants will receive a letter from the LHHC within the first two weeks of the new year. If the applicant is invited to submit a full application, that will be enclosed. All full applications must be returned to the LHHC office by Noon, March 28, 2008. Typically, the Governor's office will make the announcement in December. However, grant checks (only ½ of each grant) will not arrive at the LHHC office until spring.

It is important to become familiar with this timeline, and to remember that this grant program is not a reimbursable program. You cannot begin your project and then pay yourself back after the grant check arrives. It is quite possible that this grant program and its timeline may not be a good match with your needs. If in doubt, call the LHHC Executive Director.

ONE SECTION OF THE GRANT PRE-APPLICATION REFERS TO “Correlation with Plan”; WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Projects that are identified and recommended in either the LHHC Management Action Plan, the LHHC Interpretive Plan, or the Adams County Special Purpose Study will be given priority. If you do not have a copy of one of these publications, call the LHHC office (724-238-9030) and we can tell you who has a copy in your county.

HOW MUCH TOTAL MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR LHHC TO DISTRIBUTE?
At the present time, there are 12 heritage areas. The appropriation has varied between $2.25m to $4m statewide. This amount is not divided equally among the heritage areas. The disbursements depend on the number of applicants from each region. As you can see, this grant program is very competitive, and the grant period only occurs once a year.

AFTER I RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF OUR GRANT AWARD, ARE THERE ANY OTHER GUIDELINES THAT I NEED TO FOLLOW?
Since the grant is public money, proper acknowledgment should appear in all media releases, published documents, and on permanent plaques. It should state that this grant was from the “Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor under the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources”.

Also, keep good records. As stated earlier, a Final Project Audit will be required using DCNR guidelines. The grant check must be deposited upon receipt and be in an interest-bearing account. All interest earned from the grant check must be returned to the LHHC when the Final Project Closeout Audit is submitted.

The grant is public money, so there are a few hoops to jump through. If you and your board of directors choose to apply for these funds, then you must adhere to all requirements outlined in the PA Heritage Areas Program Manual, the State Grant Contract, the Grant Approval Letter, and the Final Contract Report. When in doubt, check with the LHHC office for clarification.