The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has received a grant award of $877,873 from the National Park Service for the 2023 federal fiscal year. These funds are appropriated from the Historic Preservation Fund and are used to support the program of the State Historic Preservation Office in Maine. This award was made contingent upon raising a non-federal match of $585,249.
The commission anticipates awarding approximately $100,000 from these federal funds as sub-grants to non-profit organizations, municipalities, or state agencies for Historic Preservation projects. The grants approved by the commission to date include preservation program staff support in Portland; funds to sponsor training for local preservation commission members throughout the state, and support for the development of a self guided tour of Saco’s historic architecture. Additional funds will be available to those communities in the state that have achieved Certified Local Government status in recognition of their municipal preservation programs, according to a news release from Claudette Coyne with the commission.
The Historic Preservation Fund grant supports the commission as it undertakes programing in support of five broad areas of interest: supporting and expanding Maine’s preservation network; protecting historic properties and revitalizing communities; recognizing, documenting and promoting historic places; safeguarding historic and archaeological resources; and resiliency and the effects of climate change.
The commission is the largest repository for information about historic buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts in the State of Maine. Established through a legislative act in 1971, the commission is the state agency that functions as the State Historic Preservation Office in Maine. The commission nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places; reviews and comments on the effect of federal undertakings on historic properties; assists owners of income producing properties to obtain federal and state rehabilitation tax credits; oversees the identification and evaluation of archaeological sites as well as historic buildings, objects, and districts; and promotes historic preservation through planning and public education.
For more information, contact Kirk F. Mohney, director, at kirk.mohney@maine.gov or 207-287-3811.
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