Each year the Division of Historic Preservation distributes an allocation of federal funds for historic preservation projects through a competitive grants process. These funds are from the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior. The focus of the grant proposals should be related to ongoing state and federally mandated programs and initiatives that are outlined in the Louisiana Comprehensive Plan entitled "Our Places, Our Heritage: A Plan for Historic Preservation and Archaeological Conservation in Louisiana." (Although timeframe of Plan is 2011-2015, it will remain in place through 2017-2018).
In 2017, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office will give special priority to Historic Standing Structure Surveys of properties fifty years and older within those Louisiana Parishes where no parish-wide survey or partial parish-wide survey has been completed but other preservation-oriented projects are eligible under the following categories:
Identifying and Protecting Historic Properties
- Identifying and evaluating important historic buildings, structures, and sites
- developing historic structure reports
- conducting Historic American Building Surveys (HABS), using HABS as an educational tool for the cultural economy, and highlighting issues such as traditional design and building practices, cultural and historic trends or traditions
Expanding Education and Public Knowledge
- hosting workshops and seminars to inform local district commissioners and citizens about innovative ways to increase historic preservation initiatives within their communities
- collaborating with university students to produce National Register nominations
- providing preservation information to the public via magazines, newspapers, television, exhibits, talks, workshops, seminars, etc.
Typical recipients include historic organizations, parish governments, economic development districts, planning commissions, museum houses, state agencies, municipal governments, educational institutions, historic district commissions and Certified Local Governments (CLG).
Previously funded projects include the development of preservation plans, surveys of historic districts, preparation of National Register nominations, Historic American Building Survey (HABS) documentation and educational activities to promote historic preservation. Typical funded CLG projects include development of design guidelines for historic districts, municipal Historic Resource Inventory Surveys, feasibility studies on a single historic building or groups of historic buildings, condition assessments and historic structures reports, public information projects relative to historic preservation and historic preservation training programs for officials and local citizens.
These awarded grant funds must be matched by non-federal monies on at least a 50/50 basis, though grantees may elect to overmatch. Grant funds are distributed on a reimbursable basis (in other words, the recipient makes an expenditure and is subsequently reimbursed for the grant portion of the expenditure when the necessary billing documentation is received).
The CLG Grant application deadline has been extended to June 9, 2017. These applications must be submitted through the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development’s Grants Online (GO) system by 5:00 pm on June 9, 2017.
Grant awards will be announced in June, with grant projects beginning July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018.
