Historic Preservation Fund Grants

The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grants, administered by the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), supports projects that promote the identification, evaluation, and protection of historic properties within Missouri. For the FY2026 grant round, SHPO anticipates distributing approximately $400,000 in funding sourced from the federal Historic Preservation Fund. These grants are reimbursement-based and are structured as 60/40 matching grants, meaning HPF funds can only cover up to 60% of a project’s budget. A mandated 10% of the total allocation must be awarded exclusively to Certified Local Government (CLG) partners before other applicants are considered. Funding under the HPF program may be allocated to a broad range of preservation-related activities. These include construction efforts to protect, rehabilitate, or restore properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) that retain historical integrity and are not eligible for state or federal tax credits. Only one construction project will be awarded during the FY2026 cycle. Non-construction eligible activities include workshops, training for historic preservation commissions and staff, walking tours, internships, preservation plans, design guidelines, surveys for NRHP nominations, maintenance planning, and related pre-construction work. Construction projects must fall within a funding request range of $100,000 to $200,000 and comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Entities eligible to apply include Certified Local Governments, municipalities, county governments, and nonprofit organizations with historic preservation missions. The application process involves a mandatory pre-application, which must be submitted by February 27, 2026. SHPO will review these submissions and return feedback by March 27, 2026. Final applications are due May 1, 2026. Application submission is managed through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ online Funding Opportunities Portal, which requires prior access registration. Pre-application packages must include a completed application form along with documentation adequate to define the project’s scope. Final applications must be submitted via the online portal, which also supports status tracking and submission of post-award documentation. The program emphasizes compliance with federal requirements, including NEPA, Build America Buy America (BABA), and the Davis-Bacon Act for wage compliance. Additionally, funded construction projects necessitate a temporary preservation covenant with duration dependent on the funding level, ranging from 5 to 20 years. Construction activities must not involve routine maintenance, major reconstructions, non-historic additions, or general landscaping. However, work on documented historic landscapes that are NRHP-listed is eligible. SHPO hosts virtual grant workshops in January 2026, separately covering construction and non-construction projects. Individual consultations may also be arranged. For further details or assistance, applicants can contact the SHPO HPF grant manager by email or phone.