photo by: Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council

Volunteers planting native plants for a research project at Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park.

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council is accepting applications to provide funding to organizations to support a variety of natural and cultural heritage conservation projects in the county.

The Heritage Conservation Council, or HCC, is accepting applications through the Natural and Cultural Heritage Grant Program – an annual grant program designed to support community projects that protect, conserve, and share Douglas County’s heritage. HCC invites applications that emphasize cultural heritage, natural heritage, or historic preservation. All projects must be located within Douglas County and completed within a two-year timeframe.

There is up to $210,000 available for grant awards in 2025. The Douglas County commissioners allocated funding for the program as part of the county’s annual budget, according to a press release. The award amounts per project will range from $5,000 to $75,000.

According to the press release, council members will prioritize projects that align with the HCC’s strategic plan’s designated priority areas:

* Inclusive and creative storytelling of heritage. Focusing on amplifying the stories and narratives of people of color, immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities. Priority will be given to projects led by people with lived experiences and marginalized identities.

* Conservation and restoration of native ecosystems. Conserve or restore prairies, woodlands, wetlands, waterways, and other types of ecosystems.

* Enhancement of agricultural heritage. Preserve and support working farms, while promoting agritourism and public access to heritage farms.

* Accessibility and visibility of important natural and cultural sites. Protect, develop, or maintain recreational trails. Where suitable, enhance access to and/or provide educational opportunities about historic sites, including cemeteries.

* Strategic preservation of historic resources. Encourage the inclusion of significant historic structures and districts in the National or State Register of Historic Places, support the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and advocate for the conservation of designated structures, districts, and landscapes.

The guidelines to the grant and the application are available at the Douglas County website at dgcoks.gov/hcc. The deadline to submit applications is March 6 at 5 p.m. Applicants are required to discuss their project with Heritage Conservation Coordinator Kaitlyn Ammerlaan by Feb. 21 in advance of the application deadline.

The council will evaluate all of the proposals and make recommendations for funding to the county commissioners in April for approval.