Preservation Alliance of West Virginia Announces “Saving Historical Places Grant” Recipients3/3/2021 The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia announced that the Pence Hotel, in Mercer County, and the Wyoming Hotel, in Wyoming County, are this year’s first recipients of its Saving Historical Places Grants. The program is the Alliance’s initiative to save historical places in the Mountain State by funding emergency stabilization work and jump-starting building preservation projects with pre-development funds.
The Pence Hotel, a contributing structure to the Bramwell Historic District and independently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the first buildings visitors see when entering Bramwell. It will receive Saving Historical Places Grant funds for much needed emergency stabilization work including wall stabilization; the first of four planned phases to restore the building. “Once restored, the hotel will host a Company Store on the ground level, and provide an economic boost to the town and region” explained Gene Buckner, President of the Mercer County Commission. The second structure to receive assistance from the Saving Historical Places Grant is the Wyoming Hotel in Mullens, built in 1918 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Funds will be used by nonprofit organization Peacework Development Fund to save the building from imminent danger of collapse by removing a fire escape. Future redevelopment plans for the hotel building are mixed-use for commercial/residential purposes to cater to outdoor recreation tourists and serve as a nod to the building’s history. “The Wyoming Hotel was a source of community pride and community history. Through the years many people stayed in the hotel, including JFK running for president in 1960, Franklin Roosevelt, Jr., rumors of Babe Ruth to everyday people coming to Mullens for work or to attend ball games or participate in horse shows. Saving it would again lift community spirits and potentially be a centerpiece for rural economic redevelopment,” said Samuel E. Webster, the owner of the building. “The Saving Historical Places Grant funds are being used to save these buildings from collapse. We are delighted to be able to help save these important historical resources that tell the story of our coal heritage, and we are excited that there are active community efforts to rehabilitate these buildings. However, we know that there is a long road ahead for these buildings to be fully functioning as we hope. We urge anyone who is interested in saving these buildings to consider donating to these projects as well,” said Danielle Parker, Executive Director of the Alliance. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation. The Alliance continues to fundraise for its Saving Historical Places Grant program and is accepting donations for this program. Donations of $500 or more may be eligible for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Donate here! For more information, call 304-345-6005.
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Pictured here is the Flatiron Building located on Main Street in downtown Wheeling. It had been vacant for years before being totally transformed into loft housing with a first-floor coffee shop. This $2.5 million dollar project qualified for $632,653 in state historic rehabilitation tax credits and created 19 constructions jobs. In 2017, the West Virginia Legislature voted to increase the state historic rehabilitation tax credit from 10% to 25%. However parts of the legislation will affect future reinvestment opportunities and even discontinue the tax credit increase. A network of nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and private investors have joined together to ask the Legislature to address these issues and are asking for support in favor of SB344, which was introduced by Senator Weld (R-1) with Senators Plymale (D-5) and Woelfel (D-5) as co-sponsors. SB344 is a bi-partisan bill that will:
the state historic rehabilitation tax credit works for west virginia!From 2018 to 2021, the historic rehabilitation tax credit has attracted renewed interest in our historic commercial districts and spurred private reinvestment in over 80 vacant and dilapidated buildings (some of which are pictured above). When a vacant or underutilized building is repurposed, it generates additional revenues to local government through increased property taxes. Once the state's initial investment is recouped, the project continues to yield positive economic impacts through a combination of sales, income, and business taxes. In 2018 & 2019, over $34 million dollars were invested to finish 9 projects in Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Franklin, Huntington, Spencer, and Wheeling. These projects created 256 construction jobs for West Virginia. Rehabilitation projects support higher labor costs for construction jobs rather than new materials and also utilize in-state trades and professional services such as legal, accounting, architectural, and engineering, as well as wholesale trade and retail trade. Large and small-scale developers report that historic rehabilitation tax credit programs fill a critical financing gap. The 25% rate provides an incentive to make a difference in a developer's decision to undertake a rehabilitation project, and it makes projects more feasible for individuals. How Does the tax credit work?When rehabbing a certified historic building for a commercial purpose, owners apply for tax credits through the WV State Historic Preservation Office. A building is considered a certified historic structure when it is either individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contributing within a historic district. The state historic rehabilitation tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in income tax liability and can only be applied to the owner's annual income after a rehabilitation project is complete. State and local governments benefit from an increase in employment and other tax revenue even before the tax credit is claimed. Learn more about what you can do to help.
Three interesting historic properties have become available in Lewisburg’s Downtown Historic District. A Sears kit house that has been on PAWV’s endangered list for several years, is available for free to someone who will move or disassemble it. Built in the early 1920s, it is an early version of The Westly, one of Sears most popular homes. A professional house mover has checked out the house and is confident it can be readily moved. Across the street from New River Community and Technical College and next to the Old Stone Church is McElhenney Lodge. It provided a dormitory, faculty housing, offices and a recreation center for Greenbrier College. The oldest part of the complex is a 19th century brick house with cement block additions. The third offering is the old Greenbrier Dairy building that housed a True Value hardware store for many years. The property includes a large lot and a warehouse in central Lewisburg. Each of these properties should qualify for historic preservation tax credits. The Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission is involved in efforts to save and restore these buildings. More information is available by contacting Commissioner Skip Deegans at 304-646-8475 or wedeegans@mac.com.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR LOCAL WORKSHOPS/DEMONSTATIONS:
Proposal Application Requirements: Professionals interested in providing preservation training for either of the above formats should submit a proposal including:
Presenter fees, when paid, will be negotiated on a case by case basis. No separate travel expenses will be paid. Presenter fees may be offered to speakers if funds are available – as well as if, per SHPO grant requirements, those presenters meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards found in 36 CFR 61. (For information on 36 CFR 61 standards, see https://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm.) Some presenters not meeting the requirements in 36 CFR 61 may also be paid fees, and PAWV will make this determination as funds are available. Proposals are due via email to Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org on Friday June 5, 2020 This RFP does not indicate any promise to follow through and implement any proposals. We reserve the right to select different trainers for workshops, sessions, etc. We reserve the right to accept late proposals if insufficient or inadequate proposals for all slots are not received by the deadline. We may suggest revisions to your proposals for your consideration. PAWV staff will organize and direct all activities and will have final approval of content. This conference receives Federal funds from the National Park Service as administered by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) invites proposals from qualified researchers and consultants to work closely with staff to conduct a program evaluation of the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program, in line with AmeriCorps expectations and requirements.
Scope of Work Goals PAWV anticipates the consultant will conduct a retrospective outcome evaluation on the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program for the years 2015-2019. The goal of this evaluation is to understand the level of impact Preserve WV AmeriCorps members have in building the capacity of site sponsors’ community engagement. Data for the 2015-2019 period has already been collected and is currently being organized into one spreadsheet for these evaluation purposes. Download the full RFP HERE. Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV), the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation, is seeking an AmeriCorps Program Manager to help with the management, implementation, and administration of the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program, as well as to manage the PAWV office in Elkins. The Preserve WV AmeriCorps program is PAWV’s statewide national service initiative where AmeriCorps members help main streets thrive, help communities capture their local history, and help preserve beloved West Virginia landmarks. The program involves 26 AmeriCorps members in a combination of full-time and half-time slots that are assigned to historical organizations across the state of West Virginia. The AmeriCorps Program Manager will be directly supervised by, and report to, Danielle Parker (PAWV Executive Director) and will assist her with the management and administration of the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program, in addition to helping with some general administrative tasks for PAWV. This position will be hourly part-time (averaging 20 - 30 hours/week) with pay of $15/hour. PAWV is looking for an AmeriCorps Program Manager who exemplifies competence, communication, and commitment. AmeriCorps Program Manager Duties Will Include:PAPERWORK & MONITORING FOR AMERICORPS
AMERICORPS RECRUITMENT, TRAINING & TEAM BUILDING
OTHER AMERICORPS TASKS
DARDEN HOUSE OFFICE MANAGEMENT
QualificationsSuccessful candidate must be organized and meticulous with paperwork, a self-starter, and computer literate with comfort in Microsoft Office Suite, email, Google drive, Survey Monkey, and social media. Excellent people skills and demonstrable ability to learn on one’s own are essential. The candidate must be able to work independently with periodic direction. Candidate should have a college degree or significant life experience. Prior management and/or AmeriCorps experience will be a plus. Communication and people skills are vital. Successful candidate must work closely with a wide variety of people. Good written and verbal communication skills, positive attitude, professionalism, calm demeanor in response to stress or conflict, ability to help with conflict resolution, and comfort with speaking in groups will all be needed. Candidates who can connect readily with the AmeriCorps members are encouraged to apply, as long as they can show management experience. AmeriCorps staff person should commit to PAWV principles and be prepared to take responsibility and represent the organization. Be expected to represent PAWV as a professional and to build relationships with site representatives, government agencies and officials, and program partners. It will be important to understand and comply with AmeriCorps prohibited activities, including not advocating or representing political or religious viewpoints as an employee. The position will be based in Elkins, WV at the PAWV office located at 421 Davis Avenue. The Program Manager will be expected to keep business hours as agreed, with some reimbursable travel around the state for AmeriCorps site visits, program orientation, and board meetings. In some cases, the AmeriCorps Program Manager will be required to stay overnight for pre-arranged PAWV and AmeriCorps Program Activities. This usually occurs in January, May, July, and October. To Apply
Applications will be accepted until January 20, 2020, or until position is filled. For more information or to submit application. Contact Danielle Parker, Executive Director at 304-345-6005 or at dlapresta@pawv.org PAWV Requests Proposals for Presenters for 2020 West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference12/10/2019 The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is now accepting proposals for its West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference on April 30 – May 2, 2020. It will be held in Mercer County and will be split between three locations: Bramwell on Thursday, Princeton on Friday, and Bluefield on Saturday.
Conference proposals should fit into at least one of three tracks (download the guidelines for more information):
This is a request for knowledgeable professionals willing to lead one or more of the following:
For more information on each of these positions, necessary qualifications, and the application process, please see the guidelines (download .MSDOCX). Submit proposals via email to Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org by 5 pm EST on January 24, 2020. This RFP does not indicate any promise to follow through and implement any proposals. We reserve the right to select different trainers for workshops, sessions, etc. We reserve the right to accept late proposals if insufficient or inadequate proposals for all slots are not received by the deadline. We may suggest revisions to your proposals for your consideration. PAWV staff will organize and direct all events and will have final approval of content. This conference receives Federal funds from the National Park Service as administered by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has unveiled a new loan program to provide capital, technical assistance, and development expertise to property owners who are renovating historic buildings in West Virginia.
The Historic Preservation Microloan will help property owners save endangered historical properties and develop commercial properties to create or retain jobs, housing, or heritage-related commercial activity in downtown commercial districts. “The microloan focuses principally on construction costs, though borrowers may also use it to apply for acquisition and predevelopment costs, as well as grant funding match,” said Danielle Parker, executive director for the alliance. “We hope to assist small borrowers, including nonprofit organizations and local residents who lack access to the credit available to large borrowers but feel passionately about saving and re-purposing historic buildings. We also hope this loan program can be used to respond to emergency situations quickly,” Parker explained. Made possible with a grant from the 1772 Foundation, the microloan is available to individuals, business owners, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and religious organizations, Parker said. Loan amounts are available at $2,500-$10,000 and are repayable over a two-year term with a two-percent fixed interest rate. Applicants will also receive technical assistance from the alliance, and nonprofit organizations may also be eligible for volunteer support through the alliance's Preserve WV AmeriCorps program. West Virginia developers benefit from some of the nation's best preservation-financing programs, including a 45-percent historic-rehabilitation tax credit established by the W.Va. Legislature through the efforts of the alliance and other economic development partners. The state also provides matching development grants for the rehabilitation of historic properties to cover 50 percent of the cost of many such projects. Anyone interested in applying for loans using the Historic Preservation Microloan Fund should contact Danielle Parker at info@pawv.org or by calling 304-345-6005. The PAWV Board of Directors are volunteers from across the state who are dedicated to preserving our Mountain State’s cultural resources. The board is comprised of four officers, three members representing each of the Congressional Districts, at-large members, and ex-officio members from different state agencies. Each year, PAWV holds an annual meeting to vote on who will sit on its Board of Directors. The most recent meeting was held on September 21 during the 11th Annual Historic Preservation Awards banquet. PAWV voted for three new individuals to join the board and for a new Vice President. The 2020 officers are President Logan Smith of Elkins, Vice President Paula McClain of Morgantown, Secretary Phyllis Baxter of Elkins, and Treasurer Cris Green of Clarksburg. Paula is a newly elected officer for PAWV and is looking forward to her new post. She says, The past couple of years have given me an amazing opportunity to learn about the diversity of West Virginia’s rich cultural heritage, and although I’m relatively new to the state, I’m proud to call it my adopted home. I’m so excited to be kicking off my second year with PAWV and hope that my role as an officer will allow me the chance to get more people from all walks of life engaged in the work that we’re doing.
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia recently launched its WV Historic New Deal Trail website at https://wvnewdealtrail.com/. This website and other promotional materials were made possible from a West Virginia Humanities Council mini-grant. The trail originally was developed through a partnership between PAWV and the West Virginia Historic Preservation Office as part of a Preserve America Treasures Grant. Paper and former website materials were obsolete and led to PAWV creating this website and promotional rack card to be distributed statewide and regionally. This website is a work in progress, and we believe there are more sites to be added to the site. If you are interested in having your site added to the website or have suggestions about content updates, contact Danielle Parker at dlapresta@pawv.org. The New Deal in West Virginia: President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the New Deal programs to revitalize the nation’s economy during the Great Depression. Recreation and infrastructure projects provided employment opportunities. Begun in 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), commonly called the “Tree Army,” focused on reforestation and recreation projects. More than 55,000 West Virginia men were enrolled in the CCC and the state had more than 65 camps. Generally, CCC camps held a complement of 150-200 men housed in Army-style barracks. Enrollees were paid $30.00/month with $25.00 sent to the families and $5.00 for personal use. The second wave of New Deal programs began in 1935 and included the Works Progress Administration (WPA); it became the largest New Deal agency. The WPA built and improved city and county infrastructures such as roads, sewer systems, bridge building and municipal buildings. The WPA was also responsible for many arts, drama, media and literacy projects. Evidence of federally sponsored activities such as the Writer’s program, photography of the Great Depression in Appalachia, as well as post office murals and other arts programs are found throughout WV. |
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