SAVING HISTORIC PLACES GRANT
*Updated December 8, 2021: The application period for the Saving Historic Places Grant is now open and will close on Friday, March 18, 2022.
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 to help communities save the places that matter most to them. In 2021, PAWV received a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior to expand this program and has approximately $485,000 to award in grants for this application period of December 8, 2021 - March 18, 2022.
The objective of the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program is to support the rehabilitation of historic properties at the National, State, and local level of significance in order to rehabilitate, protect, and foster economic development in rural communities (less than 50,000 population) through subgrants which come from States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits able to support a competitive subgrant program. This program will fund preservation projects for historic sites to include architectural/engineering services (not to exceed 20% of the grant award) and physical preservation.
The purpose of the Saving Historic Places grant program is to save certified historic buildings in rural communities from demolition by neglect. To qualify for this grant, buildings must either be individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places or listed as a contributing building in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Funding will be provided for building emergencies, building stabilization, and pre-development. Subgrantees of this program will be required to bid projects out for both pre-development and construction purposes.
This is a competitive grant program whereby applicants will be required to complete an application and submit required materials (outlined below), and a PAWV committee will evaluate and score each application based on certain criteria. The committee will make a formal recommendation of approved grant recipients that must be approved by the PAWV Board of Directors and the National Park Service. The committee will consider the following factors when scoring grant applications and determining project eligibility for the grant award. Priority will be given to projects that will
The objective of the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program is to support the rehabilitation of historic properties at the National, State, and local level of significance in order to rehabilitate, protect, and foster economic development in rural communities (less than 50,000 population) through subgrants which come from States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits able to support a competitive subgrant program. This program will fund preservation projects for historic sites to include architectural/engineering services (not to exceed 20% of the grant award) and physical preservation.
The purpose of the Saving Historic Places grant program is to save certified historic buildings in rural communities from demolition by neglect. To qualify for this grant, buildings must either be individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places or listed as a contributing building in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Funding will be provided for building emergencies, building stabilization, and pre-development. Subgrantees of this program will be required to bid projects out for both pre-development and construction purposes.
This is a competitive grant program whereby applicants will be required to complete an application and submit required materials (outlined below), and a PAWV committee will evaluate and score each application based on certain criteria. The committee will make a formal recommendation of approved grant recipients that must be approved by the PAWV Board of Directors and the National Park Service. The committee will consider the following factors when scoring grant applications and determining project eligibility for the grant award. Priority will be given to projects that will
- Restore service to a vacant or dilapidated structure
- Stabilize the envelope of a structure to prevent further degradation
- Involve a National Historic Landmark or an individually-listed /contributing structure in the National Register of Historic Places
- Provide a benefit to communities of fewer than 50,000 in population.
- Provide a benefit to communities with a poverty rate higher than the West Virginia median rate of 16 percent
- Check your town or county’s poverty rate at https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ by entering the name of your town or city into the search bar and clicking enter. In the left-hand column on the next webpage, click on “Income and Poverty”, and the poverty rate will be listed.
- Enable the continued use or will bring back into use the following types of historic buildings or structures:
- Agricultural building or site,
- Historic school building, or
- Industrial heritage building or site.
- Create new permanent jobs, new housing units, new heritage tourism opportunities, or new businesses
- Have secured a match and/or have already leveraged private dollars.
Eligible Costs
Applicants may apply for funding for pre-development and construction purposes. Proposals must be focused on construction costs, as pre-development costs may not exceed 20% of the total project cost, and pre-development expenses should contribute to the construction work being proposed. Applicants are not required to include pre-development costs if they are not needed for their project.
Plans for all physical preservation work must be reviewed and approved in advance and be in compliance 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 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. This grant cannot be used retroactively for pre-award costs, and no work can be started on a grant-funded portion of the project prior to the grant award and approval of work items from the National Park Service.
This grant can be used for a broad range of services that support the rehabilitation and stabilization of historic buildings. This request should be dependent on your building needs. Eligible costs can include, but are not limited to:
Plans for all physical preservation work must be reviewed and approved in advance and be in compliance 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 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. This grant cannot be used retroactively for pre-award costs, and no work can be started on a grant-funded portion of the project prior to the grant award and approval of work items from the National Park Service.
This grant can be used for a broad range of services that support the rehabilitation and stabilization of historic buildings. This request should be dependent on your building needs. Eligible costs can include, but are not limited to:
- Roof replacement and repair
- Masonry repointing
- Foundation treatment
- Window rehabilitation/reconstruction
- Door rehabilitation/reconstruction
- Architectural and engineering design fees
Eligible Applicants
- Tax-exempt entities
- Governmental entities
- Public institutions
- Private individuals (must show a public benefit for project)
- Businesses (must show a public benefit for project)
Grant Awards
Minimum grant awards will be $10,000, and there are no maximum award limits. Note only $485,000 is currently available in grant funds.
This is primarily a reimbursable grant opportunity, but in some cases, project costs may be disbursed sooner. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you think your project will need grant funding up-front, include that information in your application narrative. A fraction of the grant award may be disbursed once a contract is signed with a consultant and/or contractor that has been approved by PAWV and plans have been approved by the National Park Service. The remainder of the award will be reimbursed upon project completion and approval of the work by PAWV and the National Park Service.
Applicants must demonstrate a 15% cash or in-kind match for this project. Federal funds cannot be used as a match for this project. In-kind matches must be pre-approved by PAWV.
This is primarily a reimbursable grant opportunity, but in some cases, project costs may be disbursed sooner. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you think your project will need grant funding up-front, include that information in your application narrative. A fraction of the grant award may be disbursed once a contract is signed with a consultant and/or contractor that has been approved by PAWV and plans have been approved by the National Park Service. The remainder of the award will be reimbursed upon project completion and approval of the work by PAWV and the National Park Service.
Applicants must demonstrate a 15% cash or in-kind match for this project. Federal funds cannot be used as a match for this project. In-kind matches must be pre-approved by PAWV.
Additional program Specific 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, provided by PAWV, to notify the public of federal and PAWV involvement.
- All projects receiving repair assistance must enter into a preservation agreement where a preservation covenant will be recorded with the deed for the property. The preservation agreement, as outlined in the covenant, must be executed for a five-year period for grant awards $50,000 and under. For grant awards over $50,001, the preservation agreement will be for a 10-year agreement period.
- All projects involving publicly-owned buildings 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.
Grant Submission Due Date & Requirements
Grant applications are due by 5pm on Friday, March 18, 2022. It is preferable that applications be sent as one .pdf file by email to info@pawv.org and svolkmann@pawv.org. Paper applications will be accepted by mail at our office located at 421 Davis Ave. #4, Elkins, WV 26241.
Grant application packets must have 1 copy of the following items:
Grant application packets must have 1 copy of the following items:
- Completed and signed application form,
- A minimum of 3 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 60 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 plans for your proposed project. (These can be submitted as separate .pdf documents.)
Frequently Asked Questions
*Updated February 2022
My building has been deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places but has not been listed. Can I apply for funding through the Saving Historic Places Grant?
Unfortunately, no. It is not enough to be considered eligible for the National Register for Historic Places. Buildings must be either individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or be designated as a contributing structure to a National Historic District.
Can PAWV get my building listed on the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register is overseen by the National Parks Service. As a non-profit organization, the Preservation Alliance has no authority in these matters. For more information on getting your structure listed on the National Register, please contact the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.
I own and live in a historic home. Can I apply for the Saving Places Grant to complete work on my house?
While any building listed on the National Register of Historic Place is technically eligible for the Saving Places Grant, we do not recommend that individuals submit applications for improvements to their private residences. The Saving Places Grant is focused on community revitalization, and while we recognize the importance of safe and secure housing, we are ultimately looking to fund projects that will have a broader community impact.
When will the Saving Places Grant recipients be announced?
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia will make a final decision on the Saving Places Grant applications in May 2022. We expect to announce the grant recipients in early June 2022.
What are your anticipated award amounts? How much funding should we ask for?
The only funding requirement is a minimum ask of $10,000. PAWV is committed to making the largest impact in West Virginia as possible, and we anticipate awarding to both large and small projects to accomplish that goal. There is no right amount to ask for.
Ultimately, we recommend that you ask for what you need. For larger projects, proposed work can be broken down into phases that are individually budgeted for within an overall project cost. PAWV has the ability to give out partial awards so can choose to award some portions of a project.
How many grant recipients will there be?
We don’t know. Until we are able to look at all the proposed projects and their budgets, we can not say how many recipients there will be.
There is a 15% match required for the Saving Places Grant. Can my project use a combination of cash and in-kind match?
Yes! A combination of cash and in-kind can be used to meet a match requirement. We only ask that your in-kind match be approved by PAWV staff prior to submitting your grant application.
My building has been deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places but has not been listed. Can I apply for funding through the Saving Historic Places Grant?
Unfortunately, no. It is not enough to be considered eligible for the National Register for Historic Places. Buildings must be either individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or be designated as a contributing structure to a National Historic District.
Can PAWV get my building listed on the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register is overseen by the National Parks Service. As a non-profit organization, the Preservation Alliance has no authority in these matters. For more information on getting your structure listed on the National Register, please contact the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.
I own and live in a historic home. Can I apply for the Saving Places Grant to complete work on my house?
While any building listed on the National Register of Historic Place is technically eligible for the Saving Places Grant, we do not recommend that individuals submit applications for improvements to their private residences. The Saving Places Grant is focused on community revitalization, and while we recognize the importance of safe and secure housing, we are ultimately looking to fund projects that will have a broader community impact.
When will the Saving Places Grant recipients be announced?
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia will make a final decision on the Saving Places Grant applications in May 2022. We expect to announce the grant recipients in early June 2022.
What are your anticipated award amounts? How much funding should we ask for?
The only funding requirement is a minimum ask of $10,000. PAWV is committed to making the largest impact in West Virginia as possible, and we anticipate awarding to both large and small projects to accomplish that goal. There is no right amount to ask for.
Ultimately, we recommend that you ask for what you need. For larger projects, proposed work can be broken down into phases that are individually budgeted for within an overall project cost. PAWV has the ability to give out partial awards so can choose to award some portions of a project.
How many grant recipients will there be?
We don’t know. Until we are able to look at all the proposed projects and their budgets, we can not say how many recipients there will be.
There is a 15% match required for the Saving Places Grant. Can my project use a combination of cash and in-kind match?
Yes! A combination of cash and in-kind can be used to meet a match requirement. We only ask that your in-kind match be approved by PAWV staff prior to submitting your grant application.
