Third Places are Critical to Community
The Third Places Fund (2021) is a one-time grant program of the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP), funded through the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program and managed under contract by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. The grants are designed to support the rehabilitation of historic properties and foster economic development in rural communities by funding capital preservation projects for historic sites used as Third Places.
What are Third Places? They are informal gathering spaces outside of your home (“First Place”) and work (“Second Place”) where you connect with others. Third Places are where people come together to exchange ideas, build relationships, and create a shared feeling of belonging in a community.
What kinds of properties are eligible?
- Properties must be a “Third Place” which is defined as: Physical locations which strengthen social connections, build community, promote informal gathering, and contribute to the local economic “ecosystem.” This includes but is not limited to historic theaters, community centers, parks, libraries, museums, retail establishments, cafes/restaurants, bars, salons/barber shops, etc.
- Properties must be rurally located, which is defined as a population of less than 50,000.
- Properties must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places—either individually or as part of a district—or become listed by the conclusion of the grant project.
- Eligible applicants include private property owners, non-profits, tribal governments, and local governments.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
- Projects must contribute to the physical preservation of a historic place.
- All project work must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
- Applicants may request a maximum of $75,000 in grant funding.
- Grantees must provide a 1:3 match to the grant received, meaning grantees must provide at least 25% of the total project cost through cash or in-kind match.
- Grant funding is disbursed on a reimbursement basis only, meaning project work must be completed before grant money is received.
- A preservation agreement or property easement is required for all grantees for a term of 5, 10, or 15 years, depending on the amount of grant funding received.
Guidelines
All grant applicants should carefully and fully review the Third Places Fund Grant Manual linked below before beginning the application process. The grant manual includes links to necessary application attachments and detailed information about:
- Procedures and requirements for awarding Third Places Fund grants
- Application instructions and an attachment checklist
- Contracting and grant completion processes
Third Places Fund Grant Manual
For more information, please refer to the Third Places Grant Manual APPENDIX.
Grant Workshop
You can also download the slides or the Q&A chat box from the presentation.
Grantee Portal
Questions?
Please contact us via email or at 206-462-2999.