NPS Main Street Façade Improvement Grant

NPS Main Street Facade Improvement Grant


Preserving valuable historic resources and spurring economic growth in rural communities.
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Rural Impact

In rural downtowns across the country, disinvestment has made it difficult to preserve significant architectural resources and sustain economic vitality. Coordinated, small-scale façade improvements have the power to not only preserve valuable historic resources in rural communities, but also to spur economic growth in the surrounding area.

Program Description

In 2020, Main Street America launched the Main Street Facade Improvement Grant Program, made possible by a $746,900 grant from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program (HRSP) as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of Interior. State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits were eligible to apply for funding to support a subgrant program to fund multiple preservation projects in their rural jurisdictions.

As one of nine inaugural subgrant recipients, MSA will offer façade improvement grants in 12 rural Main Street communities in four states (Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Wyoming). In the 12 selected communities, MSA will provide Main Street building and business owners with façade improvement grants of up to $25,000 each. Scroll down to see which communities were selected for this program.

Funding for this competitive program is provided by the 2018 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) which comes from revenue from Federal oil leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, providing assistance for a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars.

For more information about the grants and the HRSP, please visit https://go.nps.gov/revitalization.

This project is supported through a grant from the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.

Goals

Provide grants for façade improvements in twelve rural Main Street communities to:

Short-term:
  • Preserve valuable historic resources in rural communities, many of which are economically distressed.
  • Generate tangible economic benefits by increasing sales of local businesses.

Long-term:
  • Demonstrate the power of coordinated, small-scale façade improvements on local economies.
  • Support the attraction of private investment in downtown by reinvigorating its image as the central location for business.
  • Help communities retain local talent and recruit external talent through sustainable economic development.
  • Spur economic growth in the greater community.
  • Generate examples of successful façade improvement projects to serve as a resource library for local communities.

Selected Communities

The Main Street Facade Improvement Grant Program will significantly expand the funds available for façade improvements in rural communities. In each of the four states selected (Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Wyoming), three Main Street community partners will receive grants for façade improvements in their downtown districts. Each community is expected to award between two and nine grants of up to $25,000 each.

In Kentucky, MSA works with Kentucky Main Street, Maysville Main Street, Shelby Main Street, and Williamsburg Main Street to award grants in Maysville, Shelbyville, and Williamsburg. 

In New Mexico, MSA works with New Mexico MainStreet, Deming Luna County Main Street, Gallup MainStreet Arts & Cultural District, and Silver City Main Street Project/Arts & Cultural District to award grants in Deming, Gallup, and Silver City.

In North Carolina, MSA works with North Carolina Main Street, Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc, Downtown Elkin Historic District, and Lenoir Main Street to award grants in Elizabeth City, Elkin, and Lenoir.

In Wyoming, MSA works with Wyoming Main Street, Laramie Main Street Alliance, Downtown Rock Springs, and Main Street Thermopolis to award grants in Laramie, Rock Springs, and Thermopolis.

Application and Forms

GRANTEE APPLICATION FORM

SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT FORM

FINAL REPORT FORM

Program Resources

FAQ

NPS SIGNAGE GUIDANCE

NEPA WORKSHEET

Additional Forms

GRANTEE PRESERVATION COVENANT

GRANTEE PRESERVATION AGREEMENT

SUBGRANT AGREEMENT

GRANTEE COMPLETION SCHEDULE

Informational Webinar

Learn more about the Main Street Facade Improvement Grant Program and the application process by viewing one of two informational webinars.

WEBINAR 1 RECORDING

WEBINAR 2 RECORDING