The Tennessee Historical Commission has announced the awarding of 23 matching grants totaling $2 million from the Historic Property/Land Acquisition Fund (HPLAF) program. The historic Coffee County Courthouse is among the recipients, getting $150,000 to restore the main entrance to the Coffee County Courthouse through the Coffee County Historical Society.

These grants, which come from real estate transfer tax growth funds that have been allocated to the commission, will be used to fund historic restoration and rehabilitation projects for National Register-listed properties in Tennessee that have a public benefit.

“This new state grant program is an important component of our mission of revitalizing historic places across Tennessee,” said Patrick McIntyre, Tennessee State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director of the Tennessee Historical Commission, adding “from historic courthouses to museums, this program will help a variety of time-honored landmarks that make our communities unique.”

This year’s grant awards include a wide variety of historic and architectural projects. The grant program requires a 10% match of project funds from the grantee and is for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places that also have a strong public engagement component such as museums, courthouses, and libraries. These projects meet the goals and objectives of the Tennessee Historical Commission’s plan for historic preservation.