Grant applications now being accepted for Route 66 Black Experiences Program

WILLIAMS, Ariz. — In anticipation of the 2026 centennial celebration of Historic Route 66, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is offering the Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program.

The grant program is one of the first in a series of “birthday gifts” to be given to Route 66 in the years leading up to the road’s centennial.

The Road Ahead was awarded $250,000 by American Express to provide direct grants to help black owned and/or operated businesses and attractions along Route 66. The funds will also support research and programs that interpret and tell the stories of black experiences associated with Route 66.

Applications for The Black Experiences Grant Program are being accepted through Oct. 14 and are available at RoadAhead.Route66Centennial.org

The first round of the Road Ahead’s Black Experiences Grant Program was held in 2022. In addition to this round of 2023 grants, the program will also be administered in 2024, 2025 and 2026. A total of $50,000 910 awards of up to $5,000 each) is being awarded each year through the Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program.

Established in 2016, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments’ Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education and economic development.

Information provided by The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership