Congress established the Japanese American Confinement Sites grant program (Public Law 109-441, 16 USC 461) for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.  The law authorized up to $38 million for the entire life of the grant program to identify, research, evaluate, interpret, protect, restore, repair, and acquire historic confinement sites in order that present and future generations may learn and gain inspiration from these sites and that these sites will demonstrate the nation’s commitment to equal justice under the law.  For Fiscal Year 2009, Congress appropriated $1 million for the use of this grant program.

Japanese American Confinement Sites grant applications are now available for the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.  Grants are awarded to organizations and entities working to preserve historic Japanese American confinement sites and their history, including: private nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and state, local, and tribal governments, and other public entities. Grants will be awarded through a competitive process and require a non-Federal match in at least a 2:1 ratio (2 Federal to 1 non-Federal match).  The minimum grant request is $5,000.

Click here for the schedule of “Upcoming Listening Sessions” in early December at several locations throughout the country.