The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History is accepting applications for historic preservation survey and planning grants. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 31. Approximately $80,000 will be awarded from funding appropriated by the U.S. Congress for preservation efforts through the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund.
State and local government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations and firms, and educational institutions are qualified to apply. Historic landmark commissions that participate in the Certified Local Government program will receive priority consideration. Ten percent of National Park Service funding is required to be passed through to local governments that participate in the CLG Program.
Eligible projects may include architectural and archaeological surveys; preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations; heritage education programs relating to preservation activities; pre-development activities; comprehensive planning documents; and development projects.
Grant funds are awarded on a matching basis, and the announcement of grantees is planned for February 2017, contingent upon receipt of an allocation from the National Park Service. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2018.
A complete grant package, including program descriptions, funding priorities and selection criteria is available by contacting Pamela Brooks, grants coordinator for the SHPO, at 304-558-0240 ext. 720, by emailing her at pam.a.brooks@wv.gov, by writing: SHPO, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, The Culture Center, Charleston, WV 25305-0300, or at the division’s website at http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/GrantManual/Surveyplanning.html.
A competitive process is used to determine the recipients. An outside grant panel reviews and makes recommendations to the West Virginia Archives and History Commission. The final decision will be made by the commission. Projects are selected based on how they best meet the established priorities and criteria stated in the grant application packets. Development projects will be considered only when all of the justifiable funding needs of eligible projects in other categories have been addressed. All grant monies must be administered in accordance with federal and state requirements.
