HS Alliance
ELKINS – A local organization based in Elkins is creating a grant program to save certified historic buildings in rural communities from negligent demolition.
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation in the Highlands State, recently announced that it is accepting grant applications for its Saving Historic Places grant. .
Funding will be provided for building emergencies, building stabilization and pre-development costs.
“The Alliance created the Historic Places Safeguarding Grant program in 2019 to provide funds to help communities save the places that matter most to them” explains Danielle Parker, executive director of the Alliance.
Parker confirmed that in early 2021, the Alliance received a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Home Office, to expand this program and has approximately $ 485,000 available in grants for this application period. Complete grant applications must be submitted by March 18, 2022.
To qualify for this grant, buildings must either be listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or listed as a contributing building in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Eligible applicants for this program include just about everyone from business owners to nonprofits and municipalities.” Parker explained.
Eligible costs should focus on stabilizing the building to avoid further degradation and may include, but are not limited to, roof replacement, masonry repointing, foundation treatment and window refurbishment. .
To view the full guidelines for the Historic Places Safeguarding Grant and to download an application form, visit https://www.pawv.org. Call 304-345-6005 if you have difficulty accessing this information on the website.
The goal of Paul Bruhn’s Historic Revitalization Grants Program is to support the rehabilitation of historic properties of national, state and local significance in order to rehabilitate, protect and foster economic development in rural communities – less than 50,000 residents – through sub-grants that come from states, tribes, certified local governments, and non-profit organizations able to support a competitive sub-grant program. This program will fund projects for the preservation of historic sites to include architectural / engineering services – not exceeding 20% of the grant awarded – and physical preservation.
With a commitment to preserving our unique cultural heritage, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and its members support and promote historic preservation through education and awareness, advocacy, technical assistance, and heritage tourism development.
In September 1981, a group of dedicated volunteers formed the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. The founding members of PAWV included Dr Barbara Howe, Ralph Pedersen, Eugene Harper, Jeanne Doughty, Dr Emory Kemp and Beverly Fluty.
These volunteers were determined to generate interest, knowledge and legislative support for historic preservation through grassroots advocacy, education and awareness. Officially incorporated the following year, the organization quickly began to make significant and positive contributions to the preservation of West Virginia’s vast and proud heritage.
With goals similar to those of 1981, PAWV continues to build on the original ideas of its founding members. The organization continues to grow and is focused on how historic preservation can be a tool for economic and community development throughout Mountain State.