New Federal Grant Program Offers Up to $100K for Local Hero Memorials, Starting in 2026

The “Remembering Our Local Heroes Act” establishes a new federal grant program, managed by the Department of the Interior, designed to help local communities pay for building, fixing up, or maintaining memorials dedicated to public servants and veterans. Starting in fiscal year 2026 and running through 2030, this program is authorized to spend $2 million annually to support these local projects.

Who Gets the Money and What’s the Catch?

If you’re a local government (like a city or county) or a nonprofit organization, you’re in the running. The money is specifically earmarked for “covered memorials”—permanent outdoor structures like statues, monuments, plaques, or gardens that honor veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters, or those who showed exceptional bravery or public service. Crucially, the bill explicitly excludes any memorial located inside a building primarily used for something else. Sorry, historical society plaques inside the town hall lobby, you’re out.

The bill sets a strict cap: no single grant can exceed $100,000, and an entity can only receive one grant per year (Sec. 2). While $100,000 is a decent chunk of change for maintenance or a modest new plaque, it might only be a fraction of the cost for restoring a massive, decades-old monument. The Secretary of the Interior is required to prioritize projects that honor service members and first responders, and those that can demonstrate “strong local community support.” That last part is a bit vague—it gives the Secretary a lot of wiggle room to decide what counts as “strong support”—but it likely means showing evidence of local fundraising or endorsements.

The 50% Match Requirement: Local Skin in the Game

Here’s the part that keeps things grounded in local reality: the bill mandates that any recipient must provide matching funds from non-Federal sources equal to at least 50% of the total project cost (Sec. 2). For a community seeking the full $100,000 grant, they need to have at least $50,000 ready to go. This 50% match requirement is a common feature in federal grants, designed to ensure local commitment, but it creates a barrier for smaller, cash-strapped local governments or newer nonprofits. The good news is that this match can include “in-kind support,” meaning donated labor, materials, or services can count toward that 50% goal. This provision makes it easier for a community to meet the match if, say, a local construction union donates the labor or a quarry donates the stone.

The Real-World Impact

For local governments, this bill represents a potential new funding stream for projects that often get pushed to the back burner when budgets are tight. Think about that crumbling World War II memorial in the town square or the memorial garden dedicated to fallen firefighters that needs serious landscaping and repair. Instead of relying solely on local taxes or bake sales, a city council or a local veterans’ group now has a path to access federal funds to cover up to half the cost.

However, the program won't start accepting applications right away; the Secretary has six months to get the entire program established. If you’re involved in a local memorial project, the time between now and 2026 should be spent organizing that “strong local community support” and, more importantly, lining up the non-Federal matching funds required to even apply.