The National Park Service (NPS) will have $5 million in Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (HRSP) grants available to support the restoration and preservation of historic buildings in rural communities across the U.S.
These grants will mark the second year of funding for the HRSP. State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits were eligible to apply for funding to support a subgrant program to fund multiple preservation projects in their rural jurisdictions.
“Historic preservation projects have consistently proven to foster economic growth,” National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith said. “Through the support of the National Park Service, rural communities are able to preserve their historic resources, shining a light on their unique local history, and bolster economic development.”
List of 2019 grant winners.
Funding for this competitive program is provided by the 2018 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) which comes from revenue from Federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, providing assistance for a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars.
This program funds physical preservation projects for historic sites, including architectural and engineering services through subgrants to communities determined rural by the US Bureau of the Census.
Eligible properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or determined eligible for listing at the National, State, or local level of significance and located within rural (non-urban) communities with populations less than 50,000. States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits will apply for funding that will in turn be subgranted to rural communities in their jurisdictions.
Five million dollars will be available in FY2019 funding in the winter of 2020. If your community is interested in competing in the next round, check this site to confirm rural eligibility: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts.
Photo of churches and historic buildings in Montpelier, Vermont via Adobe Stock.