Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program | P23AS00173

Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program (NPS) - FAQs

What is the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program?

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is a National Park Service (NPS) grant program created to protect and sustain the historic places, features, and stories associated with historic Route 66. It focuses on practical preservation by partnering with private, nonprofit, and government stakeholders to identify urgent and representative preservation needs along the Route 66 corridor and help fund projects that prevent loss or irreversible alteration of those resources.

Why was the program created?

Congress established the program through legislation in 1999 in recognition of Route 66's national heritage value. The program began receiving funding in 2001.

What types of projects can this grant support?

Funding can support preservation work on significant and representative Route 66-related assets, including:

• Historic buildings and structures (including roadside architecture and related facilities)
• Historic road segments
• Cultural landscapes tied to Route 66

The program can also support non-construction efforts such as planning, research, and educational initiatives that contribute to long-term protection and interpretation of Route 66 resources.

Does the program only fund construction or physical restoration?

No. In addition to hands-on preservation work, the program also supports earlier-stage and non-construction activities through cost-share funding for planning, research, and educational initiatives that advance preservation and interpretation goals for Route 66 resources.

What does "cost-share" mean for this grant?

This is a cost-share grant program, meaning recipients are generally expected to contribute matching resources alongside federal funds. The match may be cash or allowable in-kind support, depending on the terms of the specific award.

Where must projects be located to be eligible?

Projects are expected to relate directly to preservation needs within the historic Route 66 corridor across eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Does a project have to be directly tied to Route 66?

Yes. Projects are expected to relate directly to preservation needs within the historic Route 66 corridor and to Route 66-related historic places, features, landscapes, and stories.

What does the program emphasize when selecting or supporting projects?

The program emphasizes resources and projects that best represent the historic character and significance of Route 66 across its full length, and it focuses on urgent and representative preservation needs to help keep resources from being lost or irreversibly altered.

Is technical assistance included, or is it only funding?

Beyond financial support, the program also emphasizes technical assistance, leveraging NPS expertise to strengthen project design and outcomes and to help partners extend preservation work further than local resources alone might allow.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number and Assistance Listing (CFDA) for this opportunity?

The Funding Opportunity Number is P23AS00173, and the Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 15.958.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a discretionary grant under the community development activity category.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include a wide range of entity types, including:

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Public and private institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions)
• Individuals
• For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits)

Are individuals allowed to apply?

Yes. Individuals are listed among the eligible applicant types for this opportunity.

Are for-profit businesses allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses and other for-profits, are listed as eligible applicants for this opportunity.

Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status?

No. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, as long as they are not higher education institutions.

What is the maximum award amount?

The listed award ceiling is $30,000 per award.

When was the application due for this round?

The application closing date for this round was April 14, 2023.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on January 19, 2023.

Is this program guaranteed to continue every year?

No. This cost-share grant program was established for Fiscal Year 2023 only, and it could be revised or canceled depending on annual congressional appropriations and shifting program priorities.

How are awards structured for funded projects?

Awards are structured so that each approved project or activity is individually authorized through a separate award. Each award requires its own work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the grantee.

What does it mean that each project needs its own work plan and budget?

It means applicants should be prepared to define a clear, standalone scope of work with a corresponding budget and deliverables that can be managed and evaluated as its own discrete project, with the work plan and budget developed cooperatively with the NPS after approval.

What kinds of deliverables should applicants expect to define?

Because each project is treated as its own discrete award, applicants should be ready to propose and then finalize a project-specific scope, budget, and measurable deliverables suitable for management and evaluation as a standalone effort, as developed cooperatively with the NPS.