National Park Service Announces $9.7 Million in HBCU Preservation Grants
This week the National Park Service announced $9.7 million in grants for the preservation of historic structures on Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs) campuses. These grants, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, will support 21 projects in 9 states, including rehabilitation work at the World War II Memorial Stadium at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC, the continued restoration of Graves Hall at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, and repairs to Washington Hall on the former Mississippi Industrial College campus, now owned by Rust College in Holly Springs, MS.
“For more than 180 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have provided high-level academics, opportunities, and community for generations of students. These grants enable HBCUs to preserve the noteworthy structures that honor the past and tell the ongoing story of these historic institutions,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.
Since the 1990s, the National Park Service has awarded over $87 million in preservation grants to more than 85 HBCUs across the country. Preservation Action and our grassroots membership advocated for the continued support for this important program during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and recommending Congress continue to support full funding for the program at $10 million annually. Check out our FY23 Senate Interior Appropriations Testimony to learn more.
National Trust Announces Recipients of Backing Historic Small Restaurant Grants
This week the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in partnership with American Express, announced the recipients for the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. The program is providing $1 million in grants to 25 historic and culturally significant restaurants across the United States.
This year's 25 small historic restaurants each received a $40,000 grant to help them make much-needed updates such as creating outdoor seating, address deferred maintenance of their historic spaces, and fund other general operating and marketing costs. The focus of this round of grants was independent restaurants that have been in business for more than 25 years and are located in historic buildings or neighborhoods. Launched in 2021, this is the 2nd round of funding for the program.
Check out the complete list and learn more about this year's recipients!
Join Preservation Action at NAPC's Biennial FORUM in Cincinnati Next Week
Join Preservation Action at the National Alliance of Preservation Commission's biennial FORUM, Bridging the Divide, which will be held next week, July 13-17, 2022 in Cincinnati, OH. This will be NAPC'S first completely in-person conference since 2018. NAPC’s FORUM is the only conference of its kind – focused specifically on the concerns and educational needs of preservation commissions, their staff, and surrounding communities. This interactive conference blends traditional educational sessions with roundtable discussions, mobile workshops, and tours.
Preservation Action's Board Chair, Briana Grosicki, will be speaking at two sessions during the conference Stopping Waste and Reusing Heritage: Why Your City Needs A Deconstruction Ordinance Now on Friday and Advocacy and Grassroots Preservation: Fighting the Good Fight on Saturday.Check out the schedule and program to learn more!
Registration is still open. Be sure to register today!
Preservation Action is the only national non-profit dedicated exclusively to lobbying for the best preservation policies at the federal level. We seek to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of government through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training.
