13:8C-41. Use of moneys appropriated to New Jersey Historic Trust

41. a. Moneys appropriated from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund to the New Jersey Historic Trust for historic preservation purposes shall be used by the New Jersey Historic Trust to provide grants to local government units or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organizations to pay a portion of the cost of preservation of historic properties. Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis based upon the following criteria:

(1) submission of specific plans and objectives for the preservation of the architectural and historical integrity of the project, including a statement of public benefit and the need for the work proposed;

(2) demonstration by the applicant of administrative capabilities to carry out the preservation plans required pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection;

(3) evidence of ability to meet the eligibility standards set forth in subsection b. of this section; and

(4) evidence that the historic property is and shall remain accessible to the public, or if it is not accessible to the public at the time of application, that it shall be made, and shall remain, accessible to the public.

b. To qualify to receive a construction grant pursuant to this section, the applicant shall:

(1) if not in ownership in fee simple of the property, obtain a valid lease of a term acceptable to the New Jersey Historic Trust within 18 months after the date of the appropriation by law of the moneys for the grant, or the grant for the project shall lapse into the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund;

(2) certify that the property is an historic property and, if it is not listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places pursuant to P.L.1970, c.268 (C.13:1B-15.128 et seq.), agree to list it in that register;

(3) demonstrate that it has the resources to match the grant requested;

(4) agree, if requested by the New Jersey Historic Trust, to execute and donate at no charge to the New Jersey Historic Trust or another entity designated by the New Jersey Historic Trust, an historic preservation restriction pursuant to P.L.1979, c.378 (C.13:8B-1 et seq.) on the historic property; and

(5) in the case of a qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization, agree not to convey the historic property to any person or organization that does not have tax exempt nonprofit or governmental status without the approval of the New Jersey Historic Trust.

c. Moneys raised within two years prior to the date of enactment of this act for ongoing historic preservation projects may be used by an applicant to meet the matching requirements of this section, but moneys raised prior thereto may not be used for that purpose.

d. No grant awarded pursuant to this section may exceed $750,000.

e. Recipients of grants awarded pursuant to this section shall reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State.

f. Any local government unit or qualifying tax exempt nonprofit organization awarded a grant pursuant to this section shall execute a contract between that entity and the New Jersey Historic Trust within 18 months after the date of the appropriation by law of the moneys for the grant, or the grant for the project shall lapse into the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

g. The New Jersey Historic Trust shall establish an advisory committee composed of trustees of the New Jersey Historic Trust and other individuals with the requisite professional expertise to evaluate the grant applications submitted pursuant to this section and to advise the New Jersey Historic Trust on the merits of each application received.

h. Moneys appropriated from the fund may be used to match grants, contributions, donations, or reimbursements from federal aid programs or from other public or private sources established for the same or similar purposes as the fund.

L.1999,c.152,s.41.