NC Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Pass-through Grant

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is offering grants for historic preservation projects through the State Historic Preservation Office. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, support local governments and organizations in efforts such as architectural surveys and restoration of National Register-listed properties. An estimated total of $120,000 to $130,000 is available for eligible projects, emphasizing community engagement and preservation planning.

NOTE - Please note that before preparing and submitting an application, applicants must contact HPO staff to discuss the scope of work and budget of their potential project along with the grant standards and requirements. HPO staff contacts are listed in the attached instructions.
Historic Preservation Projects
The State Historic Preservation Office is now accepting applications for FY 2025 federal HPF pass-through grants, which are available to CLGs. Eligible projects include architectural and archaeological surveys, nominations of eligible districts and properties to the National Register of Historic Places, survey publication manuscripts, local preservation design standards and preservation plans, educational programs (including archaeological), and restoration of National Register-listed properties. Funds for restoration are not available to privately-owned buildings. Eligible applicants are local governments and local historic preservation commissions as well as nonprofit organizations and educational institutions within the jurisdiction of a CLG.
Funding
An estimated total of $120,000 to $130,000 statewide may be available for projects in CLG municipalities and counties, in accordance with federal requirements. A list of CLGs can be found online. Unfortunately, funds for non-CLG projects are not available through this program.
Grant awards, which normally cover up to sixty per cent of total project costs, generally range from $1,000 to $20,000 and are available on a reimbursement basis. Local matching funds should try to cover at least forty per cent (40%) of the total project costs. Grant projects will be selected for funding on a competitive basis. Please do not hesitate to contact the grants coordinator if you have a project in mind but may not have a forty percent match available.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:Eligible applicants are CLG governing boards and CLG historic preservation commissions. A list of current CLGs can be found here. About Historic Preservation Commissions | NC HPO. Green pins on the map denote CLGs. Nonprofits and educational institutions may propose an application for a CLG grant, but must submit the application through the CLG commission, and the CLG would be the applicant. Eligible Activities: Architectural/Archeological Survey and National Register Nominations. Consideration for funding will be given to projects for comprehensive architectural or archaeological surveys and to nominations of eligible properties or districts to the National Register of Historic Places. Preparation of publishable manuscripts from approved architectural surveys are also eligible for consideration. The publication of survey books, museum exhibits, and research are not eligible for funding. Preservation Planning and Design Standards. Historic preservation plans and creating/updating design standards are eligible projects.Predevelopment projects for properties listed in the National Register may include archaeological investigations, architectural plans and specifications, engineering services, or feasibility studies for restoration.Development projects for properties listed in the National Register may include archaeological excavations or restoration/rehabilitation of historic resources. Structures or sites must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places (either individually or as a contributing property within a National Register historic district) and be owned by the local government, a not-for-profit, or an educational institution. Preservation Agreements are required for all grant-assisted development projects. Deed Covenants are required on an escalating scale for development grants in excess of $10,000 and are recorded with the deed to the property. Education and Training workshops and education programs pertaining to historic preservation, archaeology, or for a historic preservation commission.