The Commonwealth of Virginia has been awarded $750,000 through the 2023 National Park Service (NPS)-funded Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program (PBHRGP) to support the rehabilitation of historic buildings and sites in the state’s southwestern region. In alignment with its overarching mission to ensure that Virginia’s historic places are valued and used as assets for education, tourism, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality, DHR will administer the award by establishing a subgrant program to fund approximately three preservation projects in Appalachian Virginia. Public entities and nonprofit organizations based in Southwest Virginia that steward historic places in this 25-county region for the public good will be eligible to apply for funds from the subgrant program.

The PBHRGP is funded though the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). all programs funded though the HPF must adhere to the HPF Grants Manual.

All grant-funded projects must enter into a preservation agreement (short-term covenant that places restrictions on the property and runs with property deed) based on terms defined by the NPS. Please review the information linked here outlining preservation agreements before submitting an application.

The preapplication is now open and linked here. It will close on Martch 15th at 11:59pm.

SCHEDULE

February 12, 2024- Preapplication released

March 15, 2024- Preapplication closes

April 1, 2024- Full application release

May 27, 2024- Full application due

Summer 2024- Application review

Late Summer 2024- Award announcements

APPLIANT ELIGIBILITY

Public and nonprofit owners of historic properties in the Appalachian Regional Commission identified localities in Southwest Virginia are eligible to apply to the subgrant program. For the purpose of this grant program "historic property" means those listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or be determined eligible for listing by DHR.

A full list of eligible counties and cities within the region as identified by the Appalachian Regional Commission and listed below:

COUNTIES: Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Highland, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe

CITIES: Bristol, Buena Vista, Covington, Galax, Lexington, Martinsville, Norton, and Radford

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Eligible subgrant projects will involve rehabilitation of buildings with a public function, including but not limited to, museums, theaters, and historic sites, that contribute, or will contribute to tourism and economic activity in their community. Each project should have a budget around $225,000.

All material rehabilitation property must be completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's (SOI) Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

INELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES

• Construction of new buildings
• Work performed prior to grant award or costs for work already completed or funded through other federal programs
• Acquisition of collections or historic sites
• Reconstructing historic properties (recreating all or a significant portion that no longer exists)
• Long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period
• Moving or work on moved historic properties no longer eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
• Cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, or fund-raising costs
• Lobbying or advocacy activities
• Administrative costs may not exceed 25% of the total program budget
• Miscellaneous costs, contingencies, reserves, and overhead

APPLICATION

The grant application consists of a required two-step process, a preapplication and full application. If your project is determined eligible for the grant program following a review of your submitted preapplication, you will be invited to submit a full application. More information below:

1. Preapplication: The required short preapplication requests basic information about the applicant, project location, and project type. Completion of the preapplication allows DHR staff to better guide the applicant and save them time before completing the full application. The preapplication is now open and closes March 15th at 11:59pm.
2. Full Application: Requests required additional documents, including a full project description, property documentation, project budget, and project timeline.

If you would like to be contacted with grant program updates, fill out the form linked here: https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/grants/paul-bruhn-interest/