Grants
The Paul Dresser House before (top) and after (bottom) restoration with Wabash River Heritage Corridor Funds. Photos courtesy of the DHPA. Terre Haute, IN
The Lawrie Library in Lafayette, before (top) and after (bottom) rehabilitation work assisted through the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Fund grant program. Lafayette, IN
Grants Quick Links
- Introduction
- Historic Preservation Fund
- Hometown Indiana
- Wabash River
- Information for Grant Recipients
The primary duty of the Grants Staff is to administer both state and federal funding for matching grant programs, public education initiatives, cooperative agreements, and other in-house activities. The DHPA currently has one active annual federally funded grant program (Historic Preservation Fund). The two stafe-funded programs (Hometown Indiana and Wabash River) are currently inactive. Each program has its own focus, eligibility requirements, funding levels, and time frame as described below.
Each grant program funds very specific types of projects. Grant proposals must fall within the parameters set for each program in order to be considered for funding. All grant proposals are evaluated by a selection committee and are scored against predetermined evaluation criteria. Due to the great demand for grant assistance for preservation projects, all grant programs are highly competitive. Because of the funding sources, certain aspects of each program are subject to periodic change, including: the occurrence of each program, the total amount of funding available for each program, the time frame of each program, and the maximum grant award levels.
All grant programs provide matching grant assistance, where the grant recipient must supply a certain percentage of the total project cost, known as the local match. In addition, all grant funds are paid out on a reimbursement basis. The grant recipient must use their local matching funds to initiate the project, and then must submit documentation of expenses incurred and paid in order to receive the grant funds. Grant awards in each program are subject to maximum award amounts; any part of the total project cost above these matching ratios and maximum award amounts must be borne by the grant recipient.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants may differ by program, but ordinarily include: 1) governmental agencies such as county commissions, city councils, redevelopment commissions, county transportation departments, and school or library boards; 2) educational institutions such as state or private colleges and universities; and 3) not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, such as grassroots preservation groups, local foundations, and historical societies. Because of state and federal regulations, grant assistance (public money) may not be granted to active religious organizations or to private individuals, and may not be used for the rehabilitation of properties owned by active religious organizations or by private citizens. Properties to be assisted with grant funds are subject to State and National Register listing status and/or eligibility requirements; please refer to the program descriptions below for specific details. Properties to be assisted with grant funds must also be non-income-producing. Properties that are income-producing and have a tax liability may be eligible to receive state and federal rehabilitation tax credits. For more information please refer to our tax credit programs for homeowners or commercial property owners
The DHPA Grants Staff is always available to answer questions about grant programs and the eligibility of specific projects and properties and to give advice on how to complete the grant proposal materials. The Grants Staff is also the primary contact for requesting general grant information and application packets.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (return to top)
Type of funds: Federal
Program occurrence: Annual
Total funds available: Variable
Maximum grant award: $35,000 for A & H; $50,000 for A&D and Archaeology.
Matching share ratios: 50% federal / 50% local for most projects
70% federal / 30% local for survey projects
Length of program: 13 months
Eligible applicants:
- Municipal government entities
- Educational institutions
- Not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
Project categories: Architectural and Historical, Archaeological, and Acquisition and Development (Rehabilitation)
Each year, the DHPA receives funding under the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The HPF Program helps to promote historic preservation and archaeology in Indiana by providing assistance to projects that will aid the State in meeting its goals for cultural resource management. Of Indiana’s annual HPF allotment, about 65% is set aside to fund a matching grants program and cooperative agreements to foster important preservation and archaeology activities, such as co-sponsorship of the annual Cornelius O’Brien Conference on Historic Preservation. The remainder of this funding pays for office interns, Archaeology Month and Preservation Week programs, printing and mailing of the Division’s newsletter and other public education materials, and the purchase of necessary office equipment for the Division.
Under the HPF matching grants program, grant awards are made in three project categories. When applying for grant funds, applicants must be certain to request and complete the appropriate application packet for their project category.
Architectural and Historical projects include: National Register nominations for eligible historic districts; public education programs and materials relating to preservation, such as workshops, training events, publications, and brochures; feasibility studies, architectural and engineering plans, and specifications for the rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse of National Register-listed properties; historic structure reports for National Register-listed properties; and historic context studies with National Register nominations for specific types of historic resources.
Archaeological projects include: survey, testing, and research focused on specific geographic areas or cultural groups; National Register nominations for individual or multiple archaeological sites; and public education programs and materials relating to archaeology.
Acquisition and Development projects include the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and acquisition of National Register-listed properties. This category is often referred to as “bricks and mortar money,” and is used to help save buildings and structures that are severely threatened or endangered. Note that properties not listed in the National Register are not eligible to receive federal HPF funds.
HOMETOWN INDIANA (return to top)
Although this program has been reauthorized,
there are no funds available for grants at this time
Type of funds: State
Program occurrence: Biannual, pending state appropriation
Total funds available: Variable
Maximum grant award: $100,000
Matching share ratio: 50% state / 50% local for all projects
Length of program: 20 months
Eligible applicants:
- Municipal government entities
- Educational institutions
- Not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
Project categories: Rehabilitation, Archaeology
In 1998 the Indiana General Assembly made a one-time appropriation of funding for the new Hometown Indiana matching grants program that was designed to assist communities with projects in parkland acquisition and development, urban forestry, and historic preservation and archaeology. By statute, appropriated Hometown funds are divided according to the following ratios: 70% for park projects, 10% for forestry projects, and 20% for preservation projects. DNR’s Division of Outdoor Recreation administers the parkland component of the program, while the Division of Forestry administers the urban forestry component.
The intention of the preservation component of Hometown Indiana is to save significant historic and cultural resources that are seriously threatened or endangered. Depending on the State financial resources available, this program operates on a biannual basis.
The administrative requirements and guidelines of Hometown Indiana’s preservation component are based on those of the HPF Program for the Archaeological and Acquisition and Development categories. The only differences are the time frame for the completion of projects, the maximum grant award level, and the requirement that a subject property must be, at a minimum, listed in the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. Note that properties listed in the National Register are automatically included in the State Register.
Under the preservation component of the Hometown Indiana matching grants program, grant awards are made in two project categories. One application packet covers both project categories.
Rehabilitation projects include the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and acquisition of State Register-listed properties. This category is often referred to as “bricks and mortar money,” and is used to help save buildings and structures that are severely threatened or endangered. Note that properties not listed in the State Register are not eligible to receive funds.
Archaeology projects include testing and research focused on specific archaeological sites that are listed in the State Register, especially those that may be severely threatened or endangered; large-scale surveys cannot be funded. Note that properties not listed in the State Register are not eligible to receive funds.
WABASH RIVER HERITAGE CORRIDOR FUND (return to top)
Although this program has been reauthorized,
there are no funds available for grants at this time
Type of funds: State
Program occurrence: Variable, pending state appropriation
Total funds available: Variable
Maximum grant award: $250,000
Matching share ratio: 80% state / 20% local for all projects
Length of program: 22 months
Eligible applicants:
- Municipal government entities
- Not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
Project categories: Stabilization, Rehabilitation, Acquisition, Archaeological Investigation, Educational / Interpretive Exhibits and Facilities
The Wabash River Heritage Corridor Fund is a periodic program intended to protect and enhance the natural, recreational, and cultural resources located along the Wabash River. The corridor is defined as “the strip of land in Indiana abutting the Wabash River, the Little River, and the portage between the Little and the Maumee Rivers.” This corridor spans almost the entire length of the state, and includes the following nineteen counties: Adams, Allen, Carroll, Cass, Fountain, Gibson, Huntington, Jay, Knox, Miami, Parke, Posey, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, and Wells. The Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission consists of one representative from each of these counties, as well as representatives of the Department of Natural Resources and other state government agencies.
When funding is appropriated by the General Assembly for this program, the Commission determines the percentages to be distributed for projects in two categories: “natural and recreational,” and “historical and cultural.” The DHPA administers the historical and cultural component, while the natural and recreational component is administered by the DNR Division of Outdoor Recreation.
The administrative requirements and guidelines of this program are similar to those of the Hometown Indiana Program for the Archaeology and Rehabilitation categories. The differences are the time frame for the completion of projects, the maximum grant award level, the matching ratios, and the requirement that a subject property must be, at a minimum, determined eligible for listing in the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. All properties assisted with Wabash funds must possess both a close geographic proximity to the river and a clear contextual connection to the river and the historical development of the Corridor.
Under the historical and cultural component of the Wabash River Heritage Corridor Fund matching grants program, grant awards are made in three project categories. One application packet covers all three project categories.
Stabilization, Rehabilitation, Acquisition projects include the purchase, preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of a site, structure, object, or other resource within the Corridor that has been determined to be eligible for listing in the State Register.
Archaeological Investigation projects include testing, excavation, and study of an archaeological site within the Corridor that has been determined to be eligible for listing in the State Register.
Educational / Interpretive Exhibits and Facilities projects include the design and manufacture of museum exhibits intended to interpret the historical and cultural resources of the Corridor, and the design and construction of museum facilities intended to house exhibits that will interpret the historical and cultural resources of the Corridor.
For more information on these grant programs, contact the DHPA Grants Staff..
