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| Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid | |
|---|---|
| Name | Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid |
| Established | 1976 |
| Administered by | National Park Service |
| Funding source | Historic Preservation Fund |
| Purpose | Preservation of historic properties |
Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid The Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid support state, tribal, and local preservation activities administered by the National Park Service through the Historic Preservation Fund established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The program channels federal appropriations to State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and certified local governments to carry out National Register of Historic Places nominations, survey projects, preservation planning, and rehabilitation projects for properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Grants are awarded annually and interact with other programs such as the Certified Local Government Program, the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, and matching funds from private entities like the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Grants-in-Aid originate from the Historic Preservation Fund, which was created by amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and is appropriated by the United States Congress. The National Park Service distributes funds to State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and allied entities including Certified Local Governments and non-profit organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Maryland. Activities supported include documentation for the National Register of Historic Places, preparation of Historic American Buildings Survey records, preservation planning consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and construction activities that follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The program interfaces with federal statutes and initiatives such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and the Architectural Barriers Act when projects affect cultural resources.
Eligible applicants typically include State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, certified local governments, and, in certain instances, non-profit organizations and institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and universities with preservation programs such as Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania. Applications require documentation of project scope, matching funds, and compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the National Environmental Policy Act. The National Park Service issues annual guidance and application instructions, and selection often involves review by peer panels composed of professionals affiliated with organizations like the American Institute of Architects, the Association for Preservation Technology International, the American Alliance of Museums, and the Society of Architectural Historians. Matching requirements commonly include non-federal contributions from entities including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and state historic preservation offices.
Grants-in-Aid are allocated by formula and competitive mechanisms: formula allocations are directed to State Historic Preservation Offices based on criteria established by the National Park Service, while competitive grants fund projects nationwide. Major grant types include surveys and inventories for the National Register of Historic Places, National Register nomination preparation, preservation planning, architectural and archaeological site stabilization, and rehabilitation to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Special programs may provide funds for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and for Certified Local Government activities under partnerships with municipalities such as Charleston, South Carolina and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Funds often complement federal tax incentives like the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program and may support projects that interact with infrastructure programs administered by agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the General Services Administration.
Administration rests with the National Park Service in consultation with State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and certified local governments. Compliance obligations include adherence to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, consultation requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, tribal consultation protocols related to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and historic treatment standards promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior. Audits and monitoring may involve the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of the Interior, with recordkeeping conforming to standards used by institutions like the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. Grant recipients must document outcomes such as successful listings on the National Register of Historic Places or completion of treatment meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
Grants-in-Aid have supported high-profile efforts including inventories and nominations resulting in listings such as Independence Hall, preservation planning for historic districts like French Quarter, New Orleans, stabilization work at archaeological sites like Mesa Verde National Park adjunct projects, and rehabilitation of historic properties in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. Tribal initiatives funded through the program have advanced cultural resource protection for communities affiliated with the Navajo Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and the Hopi Tribe, while collaborations with non-profits such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Monuments Fund have leveraged additional private investment. The program has also enabled documentation contributions to the Historic American Buildings Survey and supports capacity-building in state offices including California Office of Historic Preservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Critics cite limited appropriations from United States Congress allocations to the Historic Preservation Fund, competition for scarce resources among State Historic Preservation Offices and tribal entities, and bureaucratic compliance burdens tied to statutes like the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the National Environmental Policy Act. Observers from organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Association for Preservation Technology International have urged reforms to funding formulas, streamlined application processes, and improved support for underserved communities including rural counties and tribal nations like the Alaska Native Corporations and Pacific Island jurisdictions. Challenges also arise in coordinating with agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration, balancing preservation with infrastructure projects overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers, and addressing climate-related threats highlighted by reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.