News…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Applications for FY2018 historic preservation survey and planning grants through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will be accepted through October. Approximately $95,000 will be awarded from funding appropriated by the United States Congress for preservation efforts through the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund.

Grant funds are awarded on a matching basis. Deadline for receipt of applications is postmarked by Oct. 31, 2017. 

State and local government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations or firms, educational institutions and Certified Local Governments (CLG) are eligible to apply. Eligible projects include architectural and archaeological surveys, preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations, heritage education programs relating to preservation activities, pre-development activities and comprehensive planning documents and development projects. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2019.

A complete grant package, including program descriptions describing funding priorities and selection criteria is available by contacting Pamela Brooks, grants coordinator for the division, at (304) 558-0240 ext. 720, or by writing the SHPO, WV Division of Culture and History, The Culture Center, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., E., Charleston, W.Va. 25305-0300 or on our web site 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. Development projects will only be considered when all justifiable funding needs of eligible projects in other categories have been addressed. The projects are selected based on how they best meet the established priorities and criteria stated in the grant application packets. All grant monies must be administered in accordance with federal and state requirements.

Grant selections will be announced in February 2018, contingent upon receipt of an allocation by the National Park Service.

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is proud to be able to present its programs at no charge to the public, but without a solution to the state’s budget situation, this could be the last year that programs of this type could be offered. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, is an agency within the Office of Secretary of Education and the Arts with Gayle Manchin, cabinet secretary. It brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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