Raise your voice in support of Washington's historic places
Washington’s historic places are crucial to our civic, social, and economic systems. Previously, state funding has provided support to our communities through historic preservation—funding needed especially now as our communities continue to recover from the pandemic and chart a course for the future.
Governor Inslee’s proposed 2023-25 capital budget includes funding to continue four key grant programs that have become hallmarks of the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP): the Heritage Barn Initiative, Historic County Courthouse Grant Program, Historic Cemetery Grant Program, and Historic Theater Grant Program. Together, these grants have created hundreds of local jobs and spurred millions in private investment.
The Washington Trust is in strong support of the Governor’s capital budget proposal to help save our state’s historic places. We support the following requests for capital grant programs as part of the 2023-2025 state budget:
- $1 million to continue the Heritage Barn Grant Program
- $2.287 million to fund 5 county courthouse rehabilitation projects through the Historic Courthouse Grant Program. The Courthouse Steering Committee recommended $4.761M to support rehabilitation projects at 10 county courthouses and we look forward to working with the Legislature to support full funding as recommended.
- $515,000 to continue the Historic Cemetery Grant Program
- $515,000 to continue the Historic Theater Grant Program
To really make these proposals heard, we need your help. Contact your representatives to remind them of the power of preservation and encourage them to include these grant programs in the next budget.
Advocacy Alerts
Stay in the loop on the Washington Trust’s advocacy work (including support of these capital grant programs) and learn how you can help raise your voice in support of historic preservation. Click below to sign up for emails and make sure to select “Preservation Issues and Advocacy Alerts” from the list as an area of interest!