The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is proud to have been awarded funds for Phase One of a statewide neon sign grant program! We will update this page with more details as individual projects are finalized and installed.

This program is designed to preserve vintage neon signs AND help add more vintage-inspired signage to the Mother Road. For future phases, we must have a list of shovel-ready projects and appropriate documentation.

Signs must be on properties within the Route 66 corridor (defined as any non-Interstate historic alignment, up to 500 ft at major intersections.) External neon or LED tubing must make up at least 25% of the sign area. Signs with only borders or LED screens will not be considered. This is an 80/20 grant, meaning that you will be responsible for 20% of the overall cost of the project with a maximum grant amount of $20,000. For detailed information on the process and eligibility guidelines, read through our Policies and Terms document here.

To prioritize this opportunity for as many businesses and municipalities as possible, only one application from each unique business/municipality will be considered per grant cycle to create greater branding along Oklahoma’s Route 66 corridor. Preference will be given to first-time applicants, those applicants restoring historic neon signs, and to applicants where other neon sign grant programs are unavailable.

You can check out a Grant Application here , which is e-mailed along with site plan, concept drawings, and cost estimate to us at info@oklahomaroute66.com. If we get funding for a second phase, our Association will review each submission on a rolling basis and provide feedback as needed. Feel free to give us a call with questions!

Phase One closed in June of 2024. All of the selected signs must be completed before we can apply for a second phase. We will announce when we are able to take new submissions.

Please note that this program is contingent on receiving grant monies from the state Route 66 Revitalization fund; there is no guarantee that these funds will be awarded each cycle even if your application is approved. If your application is approved by the Association and money is not available, it will remain active for the next grant cycle.

If you are looking for recommendations of sign companies that have worked on vintage neon in the past or have other technical questions, we recommend reaching out to the team at the Billboard Museum in Bethany.