[MassHistPres] FW: **PRESS RELEASE** Expression of Interest Applications now accepted online for subgrants supported by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Program

[Walsh, Shannon]

[cid:9bcd3912-a911-4f04-bb88-4ecfc9849fc2]<https://www.pvpc.org/>


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2024

CONTACT: Kate Norton, kate at nortoncomms.com<mailto:kate at nortoncomms.com>, 617-838-6083



Expression of Interest Applications now accepted online for subgrants supported by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Program

Pioneer Valley Regional Ventures Center will award up to $100k for National Register-listed buildings in designated communities with less than 12,500 residents



SPRINGFIELD - With a generous grant from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Program, funded by the federal Historic Preservation Fund and administered by the National Park Service Department of the Interior, the Pioneer Valley Regional Ventures Center will provide $650,000 in sub-grants to competitively selected eligible preservation and rehabilitation projects. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) will manage the program. Expression of Interest Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 12, 2024. An online application form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oDMJUH7PS9qZLrSOm6g5a1mY-fTQl1C9T_p8-kGcI5I/viewform?edit_requested=true> is now available for potential applicants. Details of the program may be found on the PVPC website here.<https://www.pvpc.org/content/preservation-works-western-mass-bruhn-sub-grant-program#community-map>

The Ventures Center is the PVPC's 501(c)3 subsidiary and is one of only 13 awardees nationally to receive a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant. The Preservation Works in Western Mass subgrants can be applied to projects on National Register-listed historic community anchor buildings, in municipalities with less than 12,500 residents, located in Hampden and Hampshire Counties, and in West Central and Southwest Central Worcester County.

"These funds will have a long-lasting positive impact, support economic development, and will particularly benefit communities that have worked to honor historically significant resources with pursuit of National Register listings," said Kimberly H. Robinson, Executive Director of PVPC. "Funding provided through this program is intended to serve as a catalyst for commercial and social activity and greater investment to benefit local economies."

Additional key dates in the process have also been announced:

  *   Final Applications will be received by invitation only and will be due by Friday, June 14, 2024.
  *   Sub-grant awards will be announced by Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
  *   Sub-grant awarded projects must be completed by August 2026.
Subgrant awards from $50,000 to $100,000 will be given to work in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Properties to conduct pre-planning; roof repair or replacement; exterior rehabilitation such as painting, repointing, or historic siding restoration; structural repairs; window and door restoration; and life safety improvements to include fire suppression and ADA compliance. A term Preservation Restriction will be required on a property that receives funding.

Eligible communities include:

  *   HAMPSHIRE COUNTY - Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Pelham, Plainfield, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington
  *   HAMPDEN COUNTY - Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Granville, Hampden, Holland, Monson, Montgomery, Palmer, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Wales
  *   WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST CENTRAL WORCESTER COUNTY - Brookfield, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Spencer, Sturbridge, Warren, Webster, West Brookfield

Eligible owner-applicants will be private, public, or nonprofit. There will be no match required. Applications will be evaluated based on population, regional distribution, variety of project type, community and economic development potential, pre-planning to determine project needs, and the capacity of the active, local working group. More information, including complete Program Guidelines, can be found at https://www.pvpc.org/content/preservation-works-western-mass-bruhn-sub-grant-program

The Preservation Works in Western Mass Bruhn Competitive Subgrant Program will support the following goals:

  *   Provide gap funding to preserve and rehabilitate underutilized or endangered historic community anchor buildings in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
  *   Spur economic development and community placemaking.
  *   Promote the value of documenting irreplaceable historic and cultural resources.
  *   Support resiliency by connecting all applicants to educational resources for ongoing maintenance and protection.



ABOUT THE PVPC

Since 1962, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission<https://www.pvpc.org/> has been the designated regional planning body for the Pioneer Valley region, which encompasses 43 cities and towns in Hampden and Hampshire Counties. PVPC is the primary agency responsible for increasing communication, cooperation, and coordination among all levels of government as well as the private business and civic sectors to benefit the Pioneer Valley region and to improve its residents' quality of life.



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