FY2024 Historic Preservation Fund - Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program

The FY2024 Historic Preservation Fund - Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity administered by the National Park Service (NPS), under Assistance Listing Number 15.966. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act and further enabled through Public Laws 118-42 and 118-47, the program provides up to $10 million in funding aimed at supporting subgrant programs that promote the rehabilitation of historic properties in rural communities across the United States. The central goal is to use historic preservation as a driver of local economic development, cultural recognition, and long-term community revitalization. Applicants eligible for this program include state governments, local governments, special district governments (excluding school districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations, regardless of 501(c)(3) designation. These primary recipients must operate within their jurisdiction and design their own subgrant programs to fund architectural/engineering services and physical preservation work on properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Projects must be located in areas defined as “rural” based on U.S. Department of Agriculture criteria—typically counties that include open countryside, towns with fewer than 5,000 residents, or small urban areas with populations up to 50,000 that are outside of larger metropolitan zones. The program will distribute approximately 12 awards ranging from $200,000 to $750,000 each. While cost-sharing or matching funds are not required, applicants proposing lower administrative costs (especially below 5%) may receive higher evaluation scores. Administrative costs are capped at 25% of the total budget, and subgrants must also conform to a preservation easement requirement for terms ranging from 5 to 25 years depending on award size. Allowable expenses include rehabilitation, audits, grant signage, easement administration, and project management. Unallowable costs include construction of new buildings, acquisition of collections, or any lobbying activity. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET on August 21, 2025. Applicants must register with SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in advance. The earliest possible project start date is October 1, 2026, and funded projects must be completed by September 30, 2030. Required documentation includes standard federal forms (SF-424 series), project abstracts, budget justifications, narrative descriptions addressing specific evaluation criteria, and images of proposed sites. The application must respond to four merit criteria: subgrant program objectives, need/urgency/threat, feasibility, and sustainability—each scored up to 25 points. The NPS will conduct a thorough eligibility and merit review process and may request additional documentation during the selection phase. Risk assessment reviews for awards over $250,000 will also be conducted. Projects must comply with applicable federal regulations including NEPA and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Cultural resources will be reviewed under a new 2024 Nationwide Programmatic Agreement. For inquiries or technical assistance, applicants are advised to contact the State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants division via email at STLPG@nps.gov or by phone at 202-354-2020. Letters of support should be addressed to Megan Brown, Chief of State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants and must be submitted via Grants.gov only. The program encourages applications aligned with the America250 initiative, which celebrates the United States’ semiquincentennial through projects that honor national heritage.

Lower administrative costs (<5%) will receive higher feasibility scores. Applicants must be compliant with all presidential and DOI secretary’s orders. Submit all support letters digitally via Grants.gov.