Applications are now being accepted for historic preservation survey and planning grants through the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Approximately $80,000 is earmarked for this grant program, which is funded with money appropriated by the U. S. Congress for preservation efforts through the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund.
State or local government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations or firms, and educational institutions are eligible to apply. Eligible projects include architectural and archaeological surveys, preparation of nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, 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, 2009.
Grant funds are awarded on a matching basis. A competitive process is used to determine the recipients with the final decision being made by the West Virginia Archives and History Commission. The Commission selects projects that best meet the established priorities and criteria. 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. The deadline for applications is Oct. 31, 2007.
Program descriptions, a grants manual and application packets, including funding priorities and selection criteria are available by contacting Pamela Brooks, grants coordinator for the SHPO, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 720, or by writing: SHPO, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, The Cultural Center, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0300, or at our website at www.wvculture.org/shpo/forms.html.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Cultural Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operated a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit the web site at www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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