The Nebraska State Historical Society announced today that applications are available for its Bricks and Mortar Grant. The purpose of the grant is to assist owners in tuck-pointing and/or repairing and replacing the roofs on their National Register listed properties in Nebraska. Funding comes from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service and awarded to the State Historic Preservation Office annually.
A program description, requirements, application information, and the application link are available online at history.nebraska.gov. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Nov.15, 2024. Applications must be submitted online using the web link located on the above website.
Applicants must own a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places individually or as a contributing property in a National Register-listed historic district or will be presenting their property to the Nebraska National Register Review Board in January or May 2025. The property must be within the state of Nebraska. Additional points will be given to properties in communities with a population of less than 50,000, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Property owners must not be the State or Federal governments.
Funding available this round is $80,000. Grantees can request and be awarded grants between $5,000 and $35,000. The grant reimburses 80% of eligible project activities of the total project cost, up to the award amount and grantees shall provide in cash, 20% of the total project cost as match.
All rehabilitation work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards & Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. The funding priorities for this grant are roof repair or replacement projects and/or tuck-pointing for the following historic building types: barns, auditoriums, libraries, downtown commercial buildings, theaters/opera houses, and museums/Historical Society Buildings. Eligible activities also include professional services such as architect and engineering fees. For information on the competitive selection criteria, please visit the grant’s website section to view Grant Information resources.
Grant funding is administered by the National Park Service, and projects must follow federal requirements, including the competitive selection of contractors and consultants. In addition, an easement will be placed on the property following the project’s completion.
If you have questions about the grant, please contact the State Historical Preservation Office at hn.hp@nebraska.gov or 402-805-7392.