Mohawk Valley Historic Revitalization Grant Program in New York

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is offering capital improvement grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, with a total of up to $712,000 available. This program supports brick-and-mortar investments in National Register-listed historic properties or properties contributing to a listed historic district within selected small, rural Mohawk Valley communities adjacent to the NYS Canal System. The grant is supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The overall mission alignment of this program is to preserve historic infrastructure, enhance community vitality, and strengthen tourism and economic development within the Erie Canalway region. The target beneficiaries for these grants are private, public, and nonprofit owners of historic properties. These properties must be located immediately adjacent to the Erie Canal, specifically between the villages of Frankfort and Tribes Hill in Herkimer and Montgomery Counties. Eligible properties must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contribute to a National Register Historic District and must be publicly accessible. Residential homes are not eligible. The program aims to have a significant impact by rehabilitating historic structures, benefiting local communities, and advancing positive public perception of local communities and the NYS Canal System as valuable places to live and visit, thereby strengthening tourism and economic development. The program prioritizes strong applications that demonstrate clear and tangible evidence of the applicant’s overall investment in their project, including organizational capacity, robust conceptual planning, clear financing, and detailed plans. A key focus is also on project locations with populations under 4,500 and a current Census Bureau poverty rating greater than 15%. Erie Canalway strongly encourages the use of other preservation incentives such as New York State Historic Tax Credits, participation in the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative program, the NYS Main Street Program, the LWRP program, and the NYS Historic Barn Rehabilitation Program. Additionally, the program encourages incorporating minority and women-owned business enterprises for all or part of the proposed activities. Expected outcomes include the rehabilitation and repair of historic structures in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. These projects are anticipated to contribute to the community’s historic character and create public spaces that support broader economic development growth. Measurable results would involve the number of historic structures rehabilitated, the increased public accessibility and use of these spaces, and the resulting economic benefits through strengthened tourism and local development. The program's strategic priorities align with a theory of change that by investing in historic infrastructure and supporting community-driven preservation efforts, a long-term commitment to historic preservation will be inspired, leading to sustained community improvement and economic growth within the Mohawk Valley and along the NYS Canal System.