U.S. National Park Service announced more than $7.2 million revitalization grants in 10 states for economic development in those rural communities.
The 11 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants are to intended to support economic development by preserving historic buildings in rural communities across the nation, according to a May 31 news release.
"The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program fosters economic development in rural communities through the rehabilitation of historic buildings," NPS Director Charles F. Sams III said in the news release. "With these funds, our state, Tribal, local government and non-profit partners can develop subgrant programs and select individual projects that will support the economic development goals and needs in their communities."
According to the release, grant recipients include Indiana Landmark's Attica Revitalization Subgrant Program, $650,000; Idaho Heritage Trust's Historic Theater Revitalization Grant Program, $750,000; Adirondack Architectural Heritage's Rural Revitalization Program, $750,000; Opportunity Alabama's Black Belt Historic Revitalization Grant Program, $750,000; Colorado Preservation's Historic Downtown in Rural Colorado Subgrant Program, $750,000; Preservation and Community Enhancement Program of Madison, Ind., $325,000; Dawson Springs Downtown Historic Revitalization Project in Kentucky, $750,000; Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's Main Streets Looking Up Downtown Program, $700,000; Sedalia Commercial Historic District Subgrant Program in Missouri, $750,000; History Nebraska's Rural Historic Preservation Grant Program, $350,000; and Preservation Trust of Vermont's Bruhn Village Revitalization Subgrant Program, $750,000.
The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program is named for the late preservation leader from Vermont and fosters economic development in rural communities by providing funds to rehabilitate historic buildings, according to the NPS website. Program recipients receive a grant that then is regranted in smaller amounts to individual projects or subgrants.
Funding for the grants is from the Historic Preservation Fund of 1977, which provides $150 million each year through Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease revenues, rather than from tax dollars.
