ADVOCACY ALERT: PAWV RELEASES DEVELOPMENT GRANT REPORT, ASKS LEGISLATURE FOR RESTORED BUDGET

A PDF of the Development Grant Report is downloadable and can be shared with your legislators and friends.

The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia recently released a study that found state-appropriated Historic Preservation Development Grants revitalize West Virginia’s downtowns and encourage small business growth and sustainability across the state. The Historic Preservation Development Grant drives economic development by providing property owners with a grant award to rehabilitate historic properties. In 2014, the alliance researched the economic impact of grants and found that the Historic Preservation Development Grant generated almost $1 million in private investment in construction projects. Unfortunately, the grant has been decreased by 52% in the last three years and is no longer able to support as many or as large-scale projects, causing delays to ongoing renovations.  Based on the alliance’s findings, the group is requesting the WV Legislature restore the grant budget to $563,570, the level at which it was funded in FY2013.

West Virginians are reusing historic assets at an increasing rate, revitalizing downtowns, and repurposing historic buildings — and the Historic Preservation Development Grant is a vital tool in the rehabilitation process.  These historic assets are recognized through the National Register of Historic Places – the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.  One of the benefits of this honorary designation is access to special grant funding and tax credits targeted at preserving and reusing historic resources.  At the state government level, property owners – both private and public – can access the Historic Preservation Development Grant, which can be used for roof repair or replacement, window and door rehab, electrical updating, and more. “It is clear that the grant is good for the people and the economy of West Virginia, but until now, there has been little data to prove this assertion,” stated Danielle LaPresta, Executive Director for the Preservation Alliance.   In addition to generating private investment, projects utilizing this grant are also more likely to be grassroots driven, involving volunteers and owners that are living and working in West Virginia. “The grant funds are most frequently spent in communities where other tourism and economic development activities are occurring like the West Virginia Main Street program.  Improvements made possible through this funding are visible at many of West Virginia’s most iconic historical resources and downtown tourist destinations, including the Staats Building in Charleston’s West Side and Carnegie Hall in downtown Lewisburg,” LaPresta noted.

This research is released just as the WV Legislature is beginning to review the FY2016 budget.  LaPresta and the alliance hope that this research will encourage legislators to restore the Historic Preservation Development Grant budget to $563,570.  The alliance is encouraging West Virginians to contact their legislators and show their support for this grant program.  For more information, call 304-345-6005 or email info@pawv.org.

• To contact your WV State Delegates and Senators, it’s simple!  Not sure who to call?  Visit the State Legislature website at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Districts/maps.cfm#HD01  Scroll down to find your county/district, and in the left-hand column, you will find your delegates and senators.  Click their names, and you can either call them at the WV State Capitol office or email them.
• Whether you email or call your legislators, use this as a guideline for your conversation:
  • Hello Delegate/Senator,  I am calling/writing to ask you to restore the Historic Preservation Development Grant fund to $563,570 (this was the level of funding in FY2013).  In the last 3 years, this fund has been cut by 52%.  Historic Preservation Development Grants are competitive and the number and amount of awards depend on the grant budget each year. The Historic Preservation Development Grant program is a valuable tool to re-use our state’s historic assets and increase economic development.  It requires a financial investment from every grant recipient.  Each grant award is matched dollar-for-dollar by the grant recipient, and the match is frequently private dollars.  By downsizing this fund, West Virginia is losing precious investments in heritage tourism, educational initiatives, and small-business ownership.
• You  may also reference our flyer and a development grant project in your community.  Here is a list of grant projects for FYs2012-2015:

FY 2012 (Main Street/OnTRAC Community*)

• Kanawha County
  • Clendenin, Koontz Mansion
  • Charleston*, Station Place
  • Clendenin, Clendenin Middle School Gymnasium
• Preston
  • Arthurdale, New Deal Homestead Museum
• Jefferson
  • Shepherdstown, Entler-Weltzheimer House
  • Charles Town*, Old Opera House
• Randolph
  • Elkins*, Kump House
  • Beverly*, Humboldt Yokum House
• Marion
  • Fairmont*, Masonic temple
  • Fairmont*, Thomas Fleming House
• Berkeley
  • Gerrardstown, Marshy Dell
• Pocahontas
  • Hillsboro, Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
• Summers
  • Hinton, Hotel McCreery
• Greenbrier
  • Lewisburg, Carnegie Hall
• Ohio
  • West Liberty, Shaw House
  • Wheeling*, 6 South Front Street
  • Wheeling*, Wheeling Scottish Rite Building
  • Wheeling*, Elmhurst

FY 2013 (Main Street/OnTRAC Community*)

• Braxton
  • Sutton*, P.J. Berry’s Restaurant
• Greenbrier
  • Lewisburg, Carnegie Hall
  • Lewisburg, Greenbrier County Courthouse
• Fayette
  • Fayetteville, Fayetteville Elementary
• Summers
  • Hinton, Big Four Drug Store
  • Hinton, Summers County Courthouse
• Harrison
  • Clarksburg, Waldomore
• Marshall
  • Glen Dale, Cockayne Farmstead
• Marion
  • Fairmont*, Fairmont Transit Authority
  • Fairmont*, Thomas Fleming House
• Brooke
  • Bethany, Alexander Campbell Mansion
• Kanawha
  • Charleston*, McFarland Hubbard House
  • Charleston*, Maple Terrace
  • Charleston*, 713 Lee Street
  • Charleston*, Station Place
• Ohio
  • Wheeling*, The Cornelia
  • Wheeling*, Capitol Theatre
  • Wheeling*, Historic Second Presbyterian Church

FY2014 (Main Street/OnTRAC Community*)

• Cabell
  • Huntington, Coin Harvey House
• Fayette
  • Mt. Hope, Patteson/Deering Building
  • Ansted, Tyree Tavern
  • Fayetteville, Old Fayetteville High School
• Randolph
  • Elkins*, Graceland Inn
  • Elkins*, Bishop Apartments
• Pocahontas
  • Hillsboro, Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
• Berkeley
  • Martinsburg*, Poor House Farm Park
• Boone
  • Madison, Boone Madison Library
• Preston
  • Arthurdale, Arthurdale Forge
• Marion
  • Fairmont*, Our Country Corner
• Ohio
  • Wheeling*, Vivienne Apartment
  • Wheeling*, YMCA Wheeling
  • Wheeling *, Fischer-Lasch Farmhouse
• Hardy
  • Moorefield, Oakland Hall
• Kanawha
  • Charleston*, Spring Hill Cemetery Park

FY 2015 (Main Street/OnTRAC Community*)

• Barbour
  • Philippi*, Adaland Mansion
• Greenbrier
  • Lewisburg, Carnegie Hall
• Jefferson
  • Charles Town*, The Carriage Inn B&B
  • Shepherdstown, Robinson-Tabb House
  • Charles Town*, Dr. A.O. Albin House
• Kanawha
  • Charleston*, Staats Building
• Marion
  • Fairmont*, Fairmont Fire Station
  • Fairmont*, Thomas Fleming House
• Mercer
  • Princeton, Mercer County Court House
• Mingo
  • Williamson, Williamson Field House
• Ohio
  • Wheeling*, Fischer-Lasch Farmhouse
  • Wheeling*, The Professional Building
• Pocahontas
  • Marlinton*, Pocahontas County Museum
• Randolph
  • Elkins*, Kump House
• Summers
  • Hinton, Hotel McCreery