In 2025, a total of $63,750 in grant funds were awarded to seven organizations in Somerset County through the County History Partnership Program (CHPP). The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is currently accepting applications for the 2026 CHPP grant round. Applications for 2026 CHPP grants must be submitted by 4:00pm on Friday, September 12, 2025.
The CHPP grant, which is funded through a partnership between the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the New Jersey Historical Commission, supports local history organizations that provide New Jersey-based history programming, services, and education about Somerset County for its residents.
“Since 2015, this grant has enabled local organizations to preserve the history of Somerset County through educational programs, exhibits, community events, and family-friendly activities that explore the County’s past,” said Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission. “The CHPP grant also supports the maintenance of our historic sites and landmarks, which bring history to life through immersive experiences and live tours led by trained history docents. In 2026, these programs will play a major role in helping residents celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
Learn More About The 2025 CHPP Grant Recipients
Friends of the Abraham Staats House, located in South Bound Brook, were awarded $8,260 to support annual programming in preparation for the upcoming 250th Anniversary of American Independence.
Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, located in Bedminster, were awarded $20,415 to support the organization’s educational programming, outreach efforts, and administrative costs.
Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, located in Bernards, were awarded $8,330 to develop a series of videos about the historic significance of the Farmstead and the County’s connection to the Revolutionary War.
Heritage Trail Association, located in Bridgewater, was awarded $13,245 to support annual Revolutionary War-themed programming, events, educational materials, and new activities.
The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills, located in Bernards, was awarded $2,000 tosupport a speaker panel dedicated to the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail’s relation to the trail in the Somerset Hills.
Ukrainian History and Education Center, located in Franklin, was awarded $6,000 to aid ongoing research into the history of Ukrainian immigrant communities in New Jersey, which will serve as a publicly accessible resource.
Van Harlingen Historical Society of Montgomery, located in Montgomery, was awarded $5,500 to support the historic Dirck Gulick House’s general operations and enhance local history programming.
2026 CHPP Grant Applications
To learn more about applying for the 2026 CHPP grant, visit: County History Partnership Program Grant | Somerset County. For more information, contact the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission office at (908) 231-7021 or [email protected].
The County of Somerset is committed to excellence and innovation in public service, promoting the well-being of all residents and communities by providing effective, efficient, and responsive leadership.
