Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) monies are available to help States and local communities acquire and preserve threatened Civil War battlefield land. Authorized by the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996, as amended (16 USC 469k), $2,977,900 is available for matching grants. The ABPP will administer the LWCF grants.

The LWCF grants will be awarded to units of State and local governments. In any case where a private non-profit organization seeks to acquire battlefield land with assistance from this program, that organization must apply in partnership with a State or local government agency.

LWCF grants will be awarded through a competitive process during the 2005 fiscal year. Each grant requires a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. Grants are available for the fee simple acquisition of land, or for the acquisition of permanent, protective interests in land, at Civil War battlefields listed in the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission's (CWSAC) 1993 Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields. Higher consideration will be given to proposals for acquisition of endangered lands at battlefields defined as Priority I or II sites in the CWSAC report.

Please contact the ABPP if you have questions about the LWCF Civil War battlefield acquisition grants.