Fund for Historic Schools Grant Information
The application period for this grant is currently closed.
General Program Information
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in the Mountain State. PAWV created the Saving Historic Places Grant Program in 2019 to provide funding that helps communities save the places that matter most to them. In 2023, PAWV developed a special subprogram called the “Fund for Historic Schools” and won a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, to support the program. Grants will fund pre-development, development, and architect/engineer costs. PAWV has $665,000 available for the Round 1 application period, which will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 1, 2024. PAWV intends to award 5 - 10 grants ranging from $50,000 - $300,000 by May 2024.
The Fund for Historic Schools Grant is a competitive grant program designed to encourage economic development through the renovation and preservation of certified historic school buildings in rural West Virginia communities experiencing high levels of poverty. When a school closes and is mothballed or under-utilized, it becomes subject to blight and a magnet for illegal activities. The vacant building acts as a burden on the school district, which must still pay for maintenance, security, and insurance. Communities across West Virginia want to see these special places preserved. PAWV has witnessed communities coming together to save and repurpose their former schools. This grant program will support those efforts and open the door to other historic preservation incentives and private investment.
The Fund for Historic Schools Grant is a competitive grant program designed to encourage economic development through the renovation and preservation of certified historic school buildings in rural West Virginia communities experiencing high levels of poverty. When a school closes and is mothballed or under-utilized, it becomes subject to blight and a magnet for illegal activities. The vacant building acts as a burden on the school district, which must still pay for maintenance, security, and insurance. Communities across West Virginia want to see these special places preserved. PAWV has witnessed communities coming together to save and repurpose their former schools. This grant program will support those efforts and open the door to other historic preservation incentives and private investment.
Program Objectives
This is a competitive grant program whereby applicants are required to complete an application and submit required materials. Applications are evaluated and scored by the PAWV Grant Review Committee and voted on by the PAWV Board of Directors. Final approval for all projects comes from the National Park Service.
Projects that address the following factors are scored higher in the review process:
Projects that address the following factors are scored higher in the review process:
- Provide a direct benefit to people already living in the community,
- Demonstrate strong community support,
- Redevelop vacant or under-utilized certified historic schools located in impoverished, rural neighborhoods (those with a population of 50,000 or less and experiencing poverty levels higher than the state median of 17.9%),
- Provide gap funding for large redevelopment projects creating one or more of the following:
- Affordable housing units,
- An educational facility,
- A medical facility,
- New, permanent jobs, or
- New, expanded, or upgraded services in a community,
- Support projects informed by long-term planning (i.e., feasibility study, market analysis, and/or master, business, or strategic plan), and
- Have secured 15% in non-federal cash match and/or utilize historic tax credits.
Program Requirements
Eligible Applicants:
Certified Historic Building: The building must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or as a contributing structure in a National Register Historic District.
Cash Match: Provide a 15% cash match for total project cost.
Support Letters: Submit five letters of support for the project.
- Tax-exempt entities,
- Government agencies,
- Public and educational institutions,
- Private individuals (must demonstrate a public benefit of project), and
- Businesses (must demonstrate a public benefit of project).
Certified Historic Building: The building must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or as a contributing structure in a National Register Historic District.
- Eligible properties with a nomination scheduled to be reviewed by the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office by February 2024 will be considered for this grant program.
Cash Match: Provide a 15% cash match for total project cost.
Support Letters: Submit five letters of support for the project.
ELIGIBLE COSTS
Applicants may apply in part for pre-development and construction funding. Pre-development costs may not exceed 20% of the total project cost, and proposed pre-development expenses must contribute to the projected construction work. Applicants are not required to include pre-development costs if they are not needed for the project.
All physical preservation work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, and all projects shall adhere to all applicable Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes such as the National Historic Preservation Act and local historic preservation ordinance, if one exists. This grant cannot be used retroactively for pre-award expenses, and no work can be started on a grant-funded portion of the project prior to the grant award and approval from the National Park Service.
This grant can fund a broad range of construction services for the purpose of stabilizing and renovating a certified historic school building. This request should be dependent on your building’s needs. Eligible costs can include, but are not limited to:
This grant will not fund interior fixtures, furnishings, carpeting, or painting.
All physical preservation work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, and all projects shall adhere to all applicable Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes such as the National Historic Preservation Act and local historic preservation ordinance, if one exists. This grant cannot be used retroactively for pre-award expenses, and no work can be started on a grant-funded portion of the project prior to the grant award and approval from the National Park Service.
This grant can fund a broad range of construction services for the purpose of stabilizing and renovating a certified historic school building. This request should be dependent on your building’s needs. Eligible costs can include, but are not limited to:
- Roof replacement and repair,
- Masonry repointing,
- Foundation treatment,
- Porch repair,
- Window rehabilitation/reconstruction,
- Door rehabilitation/reconstruction,
- HVAC upgrades,
- Electrical/mechanical system upgrades,
- Other interior renovations such as flooring.
This grant will not fund interior fixtures, furnishings, carpeting, or painting.
Grant Award Amounts
Grant requests can range from $50,000 - $300,000. Note that $665,000 is currently available for this application period.
This is a reimbursement grant opportunity. All projects must be approved by the National Park Service.
Applicants must demonstrate a 15% cash match for the grant amount. Federal funds cannot be used as a match for this project
This is a reimbursement grant opportunity. All projects must be approved by the National Park Service.
Applicants must demonstrate a 15% cash match for the grant amount. Federal funds cannot be used as a match for this project
Additional Program Requirements
- All grant projects must follow OMB regulations 2 CFR 200 and the Historic Preservation Fund Manual.
- All projects will be reviewed and approved for compliance with Sections 106 (54 USC 306108) and 110f (54USC 306107) of the National Historic Preservation Act in coordination with the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.
- All projects will be reviewed and approved for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- All projects must post project signage to notify the public of federal and PAWV involvement.
- All projects receiving repair assistance must enter into a preservation covenant. A preservation covenant must be executed according to the following terms:
- 5-year agreement period for grant awards $50,000 and under.
- 10-year agreement period for grant awards $50,001 - $250,000.
- 15-year agreement period for grant awards $250,001 - $500,000.
- All projects must be in compliance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Work done to alter the property should be in compliance with all applicable regulations and guidance.
- All consultants and contractors hired through this grant opportunity must be competitively selected and documentation of this selection must be maintained by the subgrantee and be made readily available for examination by PAWV and NPS. Federal and contracting and procurement guidance can be found in 2 CFR 200.318.
Grant Submission Due Date & Requirements
Grant applications are due by 5pm on Friday, March 1, 2024. It is preferable that applications be sent as one .pdf file by email to [email protected] and [email protected]. Paper applications will be accepted by mail at our office located at 421 Davis Ave. #4, Elkins, WV 26241, but an email should be sent, or phone call made to 304-345-6005 confirming the mailing of a paper application.
Grant application packets must have one copy of the following items:
Grant application packets must have one copy of the following items:
- Completed and signed application form,
- A minimum of five letters of support for the project,
- 5-10 recent photos of the project and areas of need,
- Copy of a recent bank statement or bank account record (within 30 days) showing the applicant has adequate financial resources to pay for any upfront costs of the project,
- A completed project budget worksheet (Excel file),
- Estimates provided within the last 90 days for proposed work. Estimates must be provided for both predevelopment and construction costs. Estimates must be submitted on company letterhead and should also demonstrate the company’s ability to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. All consultants must meet the qualifications outlined in 36 CFR Part 61.
- If applicable, submit architectural drawings, engineering specifications, or master/strategic/business plans for your proposed project. (These can be submitted as separate .pdf documents.)
