Certified Local Government Mini-Grants

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO), operating within the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, administers the Certified Local Government (CLG) Grant Program Mini-Grants to support local historic preservation efforts throughout the Commonwealth. The program is financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and is designed to strengthen the capacity of Certified Local Governments to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archaeological resources. Mini-Grants provide a flexible funding mechanism outside the annual project grant cycle, allowing municipalities to respond to time-sensitive preservation needs. The purpose of the CLG Mini-Grant program is to help municipalities solve problems and build capacity for their local preservation programs in a timely and targeted manner. Grants support discreet, well-defined projects that can typically be completed within a three to six month period and that result in tangible work products. Eligible project types include preservation planning activities, development or revision of design guidelines, cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations and determinations of eligibility, revitalization and reuse studies, public education initiatives, and design assistance provided by qualified professionals. Projects must adhere to PA SHPO standards and guidelines, and consultant selection must follow a documented competitive procurement process, even if local procurement rules are less stringent. The maximum award for a CLG Mini-Grant is 7500 dollars. All Mini-Grants require a cash match equal to 25 percent of the grant award. Although matching funds do not need to be secured at the time of application, successful applicants must document that the required match is committed and available within 60 calendar days of award notification. Eligible match sources include municipal appropriations, non-federal grants, and third-party cash contributions. In-kind services and donated goods are not eligible as match. Only Community Development Block Grant funds qualify as an eligible federal match source. Grantees may retain up to 10 percent of the grant funds for de minimis administrative costs consistent with federal guidelines. Eligibility is limited to municipalities in Pennsylvania that are designated as Certified Local Governments and remain in compliance with their Certification Agreement and performance standards, including submission of required annual reports. Applicants must have a fully executed Master CLG Grant Contract in place at the time of application. Multiple CLGs may pool funds for a joint project if one municipality serves as the designated administrator and submits required documentation outlining participating entities, matching commitments, and scope of work. Funds are reimbursed to municipalities only, even when cooperative agreements with nonprofit partners are used for project implementation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed and awarded monthly, subject to available funding. Generally, up to 25000 dollars per federal fiscal year is allocated collectively for Mini-Grants and Scholarships, and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis while funds remain available. Applicants must consult with their regional Community Preservation Coordinator at least 10 business days prior to submission. Applications, including a signed cover sheet and required attachments such as the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Sub-Recipient Datasheet, must be submitted by email to [email protected]. Applicants typically receive a funding decision within 30 calendar days of submission and must verify their matching funds within 60 days of award notification. Upon match verification, a Fund Release with an approved workplan and budget is issued, and projects may proceed. Grant recipients must comply with all applicable state and federal regulations, submit interim and final reports, maintain proper accounting records for inspection for up to three years, and include required federal acknowledgement language in any materials developed under the grant. Proposals are evaluated based on demonstrated project need, public benefit, clarity of scope and deliverables, readiness to proceed, partnerships, administrative history, and alignment with PA SHPO funding priorities, including advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access and improving survey information about historic resources.