2009 Federal Historic Preservation Grants

Historic Preservation Grants are federal funds from the US Department of the Interior’s National Park Service and are administered by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.  Due to a mid-year state budget cut, the State Historic Preservation Office is forced to allocate an increased portion of its federal grant funds to help pay for the costs of staff and programs.  This resulted in the elimination of non-CLG grants for 2009.  All federal historic preservation grants for 2009 will be awarded to projects that are in CLG localities only.   CLGs may apply for grant funding, as well as third party non-profit organizations that have their application signed by the Chief Elected Official of the CLG.

Projects in non-CLG communities will have an opportunity to apply for grant funding through our South Carolina Preserve America Initiative.  A second round of SC Preserve America grant applications will begin in early 2009 with a submittal deadline of March 31.

There are two categories of projects:  (1) Survey and Planning Projects, and (2) Stabilization Projects.  Please note below the differences between the two categories regarding eligible activities and eligible applicants.

Survey and Planning Projects

Eligible applicants
Grants may ONLY be used in cities and towns that are Certified Local Governments (CLGs).  A CLG may apply, or any non-profit organization or institution within the incorporated limits of a CLG may apply as long as they have the signature of the Chief Elected Official on the application.
At least ten percent of the State Historic Preservation Office's federal appropriation from the National Park Service is awarded annually to CLGs in the form of matching grants. South Carolina's twenty-seven CLGs are: City of Aiken, City of Anderson, City of Beaufort, City of Bennettsville, Town of Bluffton, Town of Blythewood, City of Charleston, Town of Cheraw, City of Chester, Town of Chesterfield, City of Columbia, City of Conway, City of Darlington, City of Dillon, Town of Fort Mill, City of Georgetown, City of Greenville, Horry County, City of Laurens, Town of Lexington, Town of McClellanville, Town of Mount Pleasant, City of Rock Hill, City of Seneca, City of Spartanburg, City of Sumter, and City of York.

Eligible projects
Survey and Planning Grants can be used for a variety of historic preservation projects under the following categories:

• Identifying, Recording, and recognizing Historic Properties
  • Surveys to record historic properties with historical or architectural importance in a town or county
  • Studies that identify potential locations of archaeological sites
  • Archaeological surveys of multiple sites
  • National Register nominations for historic districts or multiple properties

Examples: The cities of Conway and York have recently conducted historical/architectural surveys. The Town of Pacolet hired a consultant to prepare a National Register nomination for the Pacolet Mill Village Historic District.

• Planning for Historic Districts and Multiple Historic Properties
  • Plans for historic districts which may include recommendations for streetscape improvements, landscaping, traffic flow, parking, building use, guidelines for new construction, zoning, gateways, etc.
  • Recommendations for rehabilitating facades in historic districts
  • Preparation of an historic preservation overlay zoning ordinance
  • Preparation of, or revisions to, the historic properties sections of local comprehensive plans

Example: The City of Sumter conducted a feasibility study for housing in the vacant upper floors of historic downtown commercial buildings.

• Strengthening Local Government Historic Preservation Programs
  • Development and publication of design guidelines for planning and reviewing changes to locally designated historic properties and new construction in historic districts
  • Writing or amending preservation ordinances 
  • Publications to inform and educate property owners in locally designated historic districts

Examples: The City of Newberry used a grant to develop design guidelines for its historic districts and produce a brochure to provide information to property owners about the city’s historic preservation ordinance.  The City of York developed design guidelines for new construction in its historic district.

• Preservation Education
  • Preservation workshops or conferences
  • Curriculum materials for public schools
  • Walking/driving tours of historic districts, which may include audio-visual programs
  • Publications highlighting historic properties identified through surveys
  • Audio-visual programs about local historic properties
  • Technical assistance programs for owners of historic properties

Example: The Historic Columbia Foundation produced a booklet on the history of rural African American schools in Richland County. The City of Columbia presented a series of workshops for owners of historic homes providing information on appropriate repair techniques and how to choose a contractor.

• Planning for Individual Historic Properties
  • Feasibility and adaptive re-use studies for a historic building
  • Conditions assessment for a historic building
  • Plans and specifications for repairs to a historic building
  • Studies and management plans for archaeological sites

Example: The Renaissance Foundation hired an architect to develop plans for adapting the historic Bethel A. M. E. Church in Columbia for use as a multi-purpose culture and arts venue.  A private foundation in Greeleyville hired an architect to prepare rehabilitation plans for the Dr. C. E. Murray House that will be adapted for use as a community center.

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Stabilization Projects 
Building Stabilization Projects
CLG grant funds may be used to help pay for stabilization repairs to National Register-listed buildings (excluding churches and church-owned property). Examples of eligible projects include replacing a leaking roof, repairing the structural framework of a building, and repairing deteriorated doors and windows to make a building watertight. Routine maintenance, climate control, and plumbing/electrical are not eligible for funding. Interior work is not eligible unless it is structural.  All work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Example: The Dillon County Theater Association replaced the leaking roof on the Dillon Theater, a key building in the Dillon Downtown Historic District.  American Legion Post 28 in Spartanburg repaired the windows on its historic building in Duncan Park.

Grant Requirements

Match and reimbursement
Because these are 50/50 reimbursable matching grants, each grant applicant must demonstrate a dollar-for-dollar match and pay for the project costs up front. Matching funds must be from any non-federal source, except in the case of Community Development Block Grant funds and certain tribal funds. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History will reimburse grantees after it approves the project work and receives appropriate documentation of expenditures. 

Selection process
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis through a review process that considers the merits of each application based on the selection criteria (outlined below).  

A committee made up of SHPO staff will review applications. The committee will rank applications according to the selection criteria.  Applications will be funded in the order that they are ranked until all available funds are depleted. The SHPO will seek the concurrence of the South Carolina Archives and History Commission before awarding grants.  Grants will be awarded in Spring 2009 upon receipt of funding authority from the National Park Service (usually in May or June).  

 Selection criteria
Threshold Criteria
Applications that do not meet all of the following criteria will be rejected:

• Application is completed and all blanks are filled in.
• Application is signed by the appropriate authority.
• All required attachments are included (résumés, photographs, maps, budget justification).
• The required number of copies of the application have been submitted.
• Application was received on time.

All projects that meet the Threshold Criteria will be rated according to these criteria:

• Project is well-planned, proposes a sound methodology, has an appropriate budget, and will use qualified personnel.
• Project will have a demonstrable benefit for the public and increase public awareness and involvement in historic preservation.
• Project will help implement the local comprehensive plan, or is the result of another larger planning process.
• Project involves historic or prehistoric resources threatened by neglect, development pressures, a lack of adequate funding, etc. 
•  Project involves historic or prehistoric resources significant at the local, state, or national levels, or resources significant for African American or Native American historical association, or resources significant for being among the last of their type existing.

Additional Criteria:  Where applicable, previous grant projects on the same property and/or the applicant’s past performance on grant projects will be considered.