OCRA: Historic Renovation Grant Program

At this time, HRGP is closed for the 2022 application round. Those considering applying in 2023 should begin working with their community liaison as soon as possible.

2021 and 2022 Awards

Purpose

To support the preservation and rehabilitation of historic properties to further incentivize downtown economic development as well as enhance the design and overall appearance of downtown commercial corridors.

Timeline

July 6, 2022: Grant opens for applications.
Aug. 28, 2022: Deadline to submit a Certificate of Approval application to DHPA (grant applications that do not include an approved COA will not be accepted).
October 5, 2022: Grant applications due by 4 p.m. ET.
November 2022: Awardees announced.
By January 2023: Grant agreements executed and work on project may begin.

Applicant Eligibility

Projects must meet the following baseline requirements:

The lead applicant must be any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, limited liability company, or corporation or;
be a nonprofit organization if the historic property will be used by the nonprofit for the organization’s purposes and functions;
The lead applicant must be able to show title/ownership upon grant award and will certify this is available upon application; and
Properties owned by Local Units of Government are not eligible for this grant program.

Project Eligibility and Ineligibility

Eligible preservation and rehabilitation activities:

Are limited to the exterior.
- Please note: while interior rehabilitation activities are not funded or reviewed as part of this program, any work done on the interior of the building, whether part of the scope of work for this project or not, can affect eligibility for listing in the State Register after project completion.
Include measures to sustain the form, integrity, and material of a building or structure. This includes the stabilization work and maintenance of historic building materials.
For example (this is not an all-inclusive listing):
- Windows, doors, and historic entryways;
- Brick rehabilitation and tuckpointing;
- Roof replacement and rehabilitation;
- Exterior foundation rehabilitation;
- Rehabilitation of exterior architectural characteristics; and
- See Scope of Work Guidance for HRGP Applicants for more detail.

Ineligible activities include:

Property acquisition;
Payment of taxes;
Enlarging or expanding existing structures;
Real estate fees;
Paving and landscaping costs;
Sales and marketing costs;
Any construction started or completed prior to grant award;
Interior renovations;
Equipment purchases; and
Increase value with intent to sell.

Property Eligibility

The historic property must be:

Located in Indiana;
At least fifty (50) years old;
Listed or eligible for listing at the time of application in the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures (State Register); note that all properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places are also listed in the State Register.
Actively used in a trade or business;
Held for the production of income;
Held for the rental or other use in the ordinary course of the person’s trade or business;
OR
Owned and used by a nonprofit organization or nonprofit corporation for the organization's or corporation's purposes and functions.

Determination of Eligibility on National Register

If applicant is unsure if property is listed or eligible for listing in the State Register click here to find State Register listing status. If the property is not listed on the State Register, applicants will have to complete a Determination of Eligibility form and submit directly to DHPA. Please note that Determinations of Eligibility will only be issued for individual sites; there is no provision for determinations of eligibility for historic districts for the State Register.

Determination of Eligibility on National Register (Form 56286)

Certificate of Approval

Indiana Code § 14-21-1-18(a) and (b) require that a certificate of approval be obtained before using state funds to alter, demolish, or remove a historic site or historic structure, if it is owned by the state or if it is listed in either the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures or the National Register of Historic Places. The application must be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA).

Instructions for Application for Certificate of Approval (Form 52889)

For more information on how to obtain a Determination of Eligibility or a Certificate of Approval from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA), please contact Ashley Thomas at DHPA directly at either asthomas@dnr.in.gov or 317-234-7034.

Funding Requirements and Distribution

Grant requests between $5,000 and $100,000 will be accepted. All grant requests need to be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount;
Eligible requests must be no more than 50% of eligible project costs;
Local match must be greater than or equal to 50% of total eligible project costs;
Local match must be provided by the applicant or a third party with documentation provided at time of application;
Ineligible expenses may be included in the project summary but will not count towards the eligible local match; and
Any work that applicants are seeking grant funding for cannot begin until a grant agreement is fully executed. Likewise, the required local match may not be spent prior to grant award.

Please note: The grant award is considered taxable income in the year that it is used. Awardees should consult with their legal counsel or accountant for more information.

Program and Submission Guidelines

See the “HRGP Instructions” document under “Resources” for full details and application process.

Threshold items (application is automatically ineligible without meeting these requirements):

Match is 50% of total eligible project costs.
Line Item Budget must be complete and all numbers consistent throughout application.
Proof provided of available local match.
Property is listed or eligible to be listed on National or State Register of Historic Places by the time of application.
Evidence of having obtained a project Certificate of Approval from the Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology.
Only electronic July 2022 HRGP application forms will be accepted. Applications must be submitted as separate attachments by type (application, letters of support, budget, estimates, photos, etc.) in PDF format under simple and identifiable naming conventions, except for the Budget Table, which should be submitted as an Excel document. Please submit application materials to info@ocra.in.gov with the subject line “2022 HRGP APPLICATION”

Resources

OCRA Resources:

*Please note: Only July 2022 application forms will be accepted. Interested applicants may use prior applications to begin preparing necessary materials but will have to transfer all information to the 2022 application upon its availability. Please note that some questions, formatting, and/or content may change from one application to the next.

Forms found on the DHPA website:

DHPA State Form 56286: Determination for Eligibility on National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Places and Structures
DHPA State Form 52889: Instructions for Application for Certificate of Approval

Historic Renovation Grant Program