How do I Apply?
When funding is available, applications will completed and submitted through Grants.gov. SHPOs, THPOs, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits may apply for funding to support a subgrant program. This means that they will administer a program that awards funds to projects within their jurisdictions.
Grant Recipients versus Grant Projects
Under this program, eligible grantees (nonprofits, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, State Historic Preservation Offices, or Certified Local Governments) will receive funds to be subgranted to projects within their jurisdictions.
Who are Eligible Applicants and Recipients?
Eligible Applicants
- Nonprofit, tax-exempt US organizations, with or without 501(c)(3) designation
- Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
- State Historic Preservation Offices
- Certified Local Governments
Eligible Subgrant Recipients
- Properties listed in or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
- Properties located in areas defined as "rural" by the US Bureau of the Census (less than 50,000)
- Properties within the grantee's jurisdiction
What is Funded?
The goal of the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program is to support subgrant programs that enable the rehabilitation of rural historic properties at the national, state, and local level of significance and to rehabilitate, protect, and foster economic development of rural communities. States, Tribes, and Certified Local Governments will submit applications describing their proposed subgrant program and their ability to support and administer it. Those subgrant programs will fund preservation projects for historic sites to include architectural/engineering services and physical building preservation that meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards & Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation.
What is Not Funded?
- Work on grantee-owned property
- Work on projects that have not been competitively selected
- Construction of new buildings
- Acquisition of collections or histoirc sites
- Long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period
- Reconstructing historic properties (recreating all or a significant portion that no longer exists)
- Moving or work on moved historic properties no longer eliigble for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
- Cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, or fund-raising costs
- Work performed prior to grant award or costs for work already completed or funded through other federal programs
- Lobbying or advocacy activities
- Administrative costs exceeding 25% of the total program budget
- Miscellaneous costs, contingencies, reserves, and overhead
Selection Process
NPS personnel and qualified Federal employees will review all complete proposals using the criteria outlined below. Reviewers’ evaluations are based solely on the material provided in the application. Additional materials not specifically required by the application, and materials sent separately from the application, will not be considered. A summary of the review panel comments may be provided to the applicant if requested after the grant process is complete.
Panel recommendations will be made to the Secretary of the Interior who will select successful applicants and forward to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. NPS will conduct risk assessments on all projects prior to funding. Matching funds are not required but may be considered as part of the evaluation process.
Last updated: January 23, 2024