2021 Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Year in Review

2021 Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant statistics

NPS Photo/Hannah Thomas

As the year draws to a close, NPS’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) invites you to look back with us on the ground we’ve covered in the past twelve months and join us in reaching toward expansive, diverse, and strengthened partnerships in the new year. ABPP’s mission to preserve sites of armed conflict on American soil rests on partnerships, and Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants are a perfect example of how preservation efforts can take a village.

Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants (BLAG) empower preservation partners nationwide to acquire and preserve battlefield lands. Last year ABPP awarded $5.3 million to assist with the non-Federal acquisition and protection of nearly 400 acres of battlefield lands, including one grant to a first-time recipient. Behind every grant recipient, there are multiple partner organizations who work tirelessly to shepherd a land acquisition to completion. The payoff can take years and requires a long-term vision. Our preservation partners understand that protecting these important places can lead to sustainable solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Three of our four grants, including BLAGs, are funded by the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). In 2020, a bipartisan Congress permanently funded LWCF to invest in conservation and recreation opportunities across the country. These efforts help strengthen communities, preserve history, and protect lands and waters at the state and local levels.

Armed conflict is interwoven throughout American history, has shaped the territory and landscapes of the United States, and continues to shape our shared experiences and collective memories. It’s no small irony that sites of conflict can bring us together. In the next year, as with all our efforts, our goal remains to sustain the stories and living landscapes that weave together our collective well-being and resilience.

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Text-Only Version of Infographic

NPS ABPP Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant stats from 2021. A total of 10 grants equaling $5.3 million were awarded to 6 different recipients with the assistance of 4 partner organizations. 16% of them were first time recipients.

Forty percent of the recipients were local and county governments, while 60% of them were state governments.

The grants funded preservation across 5 different states. States included West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginina, and Mississippi.

A total 394 acreas were protected. 72.23 acres were associated with the American Revolution, 322.13 acres with the Civil War and 0 with the War of 1812.