The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and the Board of County Commissioners have made funds available for support of the Arts through a Local Art Partnership (LAP) re-grant administered by the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Division. This State block-grant program provides essential support for the local arts community. The grants are intended to promote the growth and public accessibility of high quality, diverse, community arts organizations and projects.  

Eligibility Requirements: 

Mercer County's LAP grants are open to all county-based non-profit [certified as 501(c) (3) or 501(c) (4) agencies by the IRS] organizations that have been in operation, providing arts programming/services for at least two (2) years prior to applying. Applicants cannot receive funds from both the Mercer County Culture and Heritage Commission and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts during the same funding year, nor may they receive funding from a Culture & Heritage office in another county during the same funding year (see below guidelines for full Eligibility information).  

Grant Categories: 

Eligible organizations may apply for Special Project Support (SP) or General Operating Support (GOS). Different grant matches are required based on the type of grant being requested. Organizations may only apply for one LAP grant (regardless of category) in any given grant year. 

The FY26 Local Art Program (LAP) Application will open on June 16, 2025 and close August 29, 2025. 

•  FY26 Local Art Program (LAP) Guidelines

To apply to any upcoming C&H grant, organizations must sign in or create an account with our Online Grant Portal. 

For more information about Mercer County re-grant programs, email cjohnstone@mercercounty.org or LTramo@mercercounty.org or call (609) 278-2712