Technical Assistance Grant

The Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) program is a collaboration between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State, with additional funding support from the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. The grant aims to provide financial support for discrete studies of historic buildings or sites that precede minor rehabilitation or repair projects, particularly for organizations involved in arts and cultural preservation. TAG is designed to catalyze preservation activities by providing funding for smaller-scale studies with faster timelines than those supported by the Preserve New York program. It supports technical assessments including accessibility studies, engineering and structural analyses, limited condition assessments, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) analyses, energy audits, and specialized conservation studies. These evaluations are intended to offer practical guidance, cost estimates, and preservation-focused strategies to organizations caring for historic sites used for public-facing cultural activities. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that own or lease (for a minimum of six years) a historic property used primarily for cultural and public programming. Municipalities that own such historic resources are also eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a meaningful financial commitment to the project, including a required minimum cash match of $500. In-kind services or staff time cannot be counted toward this match requirement. Applicants may request up to $7,500 for projects with total costs not exceeding $8,000. Although TAG strives to fund requested amounts in full, funding availability may necessitate partial awards. Projects that address social justice, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion, or that involve underrepresented communities as defined by NYSCA, receive priority consideration. Projects responding to climate change challenges are also prioritized. The application process is conducted entirely online. Interested applicants must submit a pre-application to determine eligibility, which remains available until 5:00 p.m. ET on April 11, 2025. Only those who complete the pre-application will receive access to the full application, which is due by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 18, 2025. Award notifications are expected approximately 12 weeks after the final deadline. For inquiries, applicants may contact the Preservation League via email at grants@preservenys.org or by phone at 518-462-5658 ext. 10. The next application cycle is scheduled to open in 2026, following the conclusion of the current round.

Projects with a strong DEIA focus, energy efficiency, or underrepresented community relevance receive priority.