The Commonwealth of Virginia has been awarded an additional $750,000 for another round of funding through the 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 Virginia Department of Historic Resources is implementing a new online grant management system called WebGrants for all its grant programs. WebGrants will enable DHR to more efficiently publish grant opportunities, administer projects, and process claims. You will need to register in WebGrants to apply for this grant opportunity. To do so, click this link.

SCHEDULE

February 26, 2025- Preapplication released in WebGrants

April 18, 2025- Preapplication closes

April 29, 2025- Full application released

June 2, 2025- Full application due

Summer 2024- Application review

Late Summer 2024- Award announcements

GRANT GUIDELINES

Please review the grant guidelines before applying. The guidelines include some of the information on this webpage as well as additional details.

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 Virginia Department of Historic Resources is implementing a new online grant management system called WebGrants for all its grant programs. WebGrants will enable DHR to more efficiently publish grant opportunities, administer projects, and process claims. You will need to register in WebGrants to apply for this grant opportunity. To do so, click this link.

The first step in the application process is the Preapplication in WebGrants. The form will help determine if the project meets minimum eligibility requirements as set out in the and grant guidelines. DHR grant staff will let you know if your project is eligible for this grant fund following the preapplication and invite you to complete the full grant application in WebGrants. See the grant guidelines for further details.