The Local Preservation Partners Grant is a grant from the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office that funds historic preservation projects undertaken by local governments, nonprofit organizations, and preservation groups throughout Connecticut. The program supports activities including survey and documentation of historic resources, National Register nominations, preservation planning, and community education efforts.

Eligible applicants are municipalities, preservation organizations, and nonprofits with demonstrated capacity for historic preservation work in Connecticut. Awards help build local preservation capacity and protect the state's historic and cultural heritage.

# State Historic Preservation Office # Local Preservation Partners Local Preservation Partners Grant for Non-Profit Organizations The Local Preservation Partners Grant is designed to strengthen and deepen the State Historic Preservation Office’s relationship with local historic preservation partners in order to better serve our communities.

The new Local Preservation Partners Grant will help your organization focus on specific activities that relate to your mission and help you both broaden and deepen your focus on local preservation. Funding will be geared toward activities and programs that strengthen local preservation advocacy, preservation education and outreach, and identification of new historic resources.

Local Preservation Partners Grants are funded by the Community Investment Act. The Community Investment Act (also known as Public Act 05-228) was signed into law in 2005. The Act provides increased funding for open space, farmland preservation, historic preservation , Local Preservation Partners Grants are used to create a local historic preservation program tailored to the capacity of your organization.

Funding will be used to support the following three main activities: • Local Historic Preservation Advocacy ; examples include: o Meeting regularly with state and local elected officials to discuss and advance the goals of historic preservation o Meeting regularly with local stakeholders such as municipal staff, hospitals, universities and developers to plan ways to take historic resources into consideration in development planning o Affiliating with state and national historic preservation advocacy groups like CT Preservation Action, Preservation Action and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

o Regular press engagement to raise awareness of critical local preservation issues or threats . o Advocating to put in place local legislation for the protection of historic resources. o Engaging the public and raising awareness regarding local historic preservation threats, challenges and opportunities.

• Historic Preservation Outreach and Education; examples include: o Developing programs that raise awareness of your local historic built environment 3 | P a g e o Workshops on best practices in historic preservation o Educating the public regarding the role of sustainability and energy efficiency in historic buildings.

• Identification of new Historic Resources; examples include: o Initiating Historic Resources Inventories o Advocating for new locally designated districts and properties o Identifying and designating resources related to traditionally underrepresented communities . Applicants can incorporate any or all of these activities into their preservation plan.

In addition to receipt of grant funds, it is expected that qualified applicants will work collaboratively and closely with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) staff throughout the period of the grant award. Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion The CT SHPO is committed to advancing partnerships with organizations whose work and organizational infrastructure reflect the goals of equity, access, diversity, and inclusion.

Both the way the organization identifies and serves its audience and the internal structures (including governance) of the organization will be a part of the review criteria. Applicants can be any non-profit organization whose mission statement identifies historic preservation advocacy and/or the identification and protection of local historic resources in its mission statement.

While you don’t have to be dedicated exclusively to broad-based historic preservation activities, your mission statement and vision must clearly show a commitment to historic preservation.

Organizations must have maintained tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code for at least two years, be governed by a board of directors that meets regularly to set policy, show proof that organizational bylaws are reviewed every five years, and have completed two full years of historic preservation programs.

Preservation/06_About_SHPO/About-SHPO-new ); 2) an Affirmative Action Plan; and 3) a statement on compliance with federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Organizations must submit a proposed one-year local preservation work plan to be approved by SHPO prior to the issuing of a grant contract by SHPO. The proposed work program must 4 | P a g e One-year matching grants of $20,000-$50,000 will be awarded .

Note: this grant can be used to fund staff salaries as long as salaries are tied to specific and measurable activities outlined in the historic preservation plan. Funding can be used to hire outside consultants to complete projects , such as historic designations and workshops , and 10% of the grant can be retained to fund organizational administrative costs associated with the activity, including staff salaries.

Applicant organizations must match the state grant award on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The match may come from private, municipal , or federal funds. Grant funds are paid to grantees quarterly by the SHPO on a reimbursement basis.

The grantee will submit a requisition form as prescribed by SHPO which will be accompanied by expenditure receipts and an activity report for the period.

A ll historic preservation work and recommendations carried out by the organization must be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Identification, Evaluation, Registration, and Protection of historic resources Article Series (U.S. National Park Service) as interpreted by the SHPO.

Grantees are highly encouraged to work directly with SHPO staff proactively to ensure that the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards are always met. Collaborating and working closely with SHPO throughout your plan will help ensure that all work, activities, advice and/or recommendation undertaken by the organization meet these Standards and avoids jeopardizing current and future funding.

Eligible applicants are strictly limited to Connecticut non-profit organizations as described above. Proof of non-profit status is required. All applicants must provide their Federal Employer Identification Number issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Ineligible applicants include: federal and state agencies, and “friends” groups of federal or state agencies and municipalities, including municipal historic district commissions. Activities that promote Local Historic Preservation Advocacy, Historic Preservation Education and Awareness, and/or Identification of Historic Resources as outlined in your approved local historic preservation plan.

Ineligible costs include: • acquisition of real estate 5 | P a g e • activities performed outside of the represented mu n icip alit y • archival research not connected to historic preservation • construction, restoration , or rehabilitation • costs incurred prior to the date of a grant award • hospitality expenses including alcoholic beverages, food, meals , and entertainment • interpretative expenses • nonconformance with applicable Secretary of the Interior’s Standards • projects already underway • political contributions Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be considered for funding as long as state funds are available.

Applications can be mailed or sent by email. The application must include all materials shown below. 1.

Application Cover Form (starting on Page 10 of this document) 2. Project Abstract (200 words) 3. Application Narrative: Please address the questions below in narrative form: 3) Who is your audience (whom do you serve?)

4) How do you measure the impact of your programs and activities? 5) Are you a membership organization? If so, how many members did you have in the following years: 2022, 2023, 2024 .

6 | P a g e 6) List the names and titles of your staff and, indicate whether part-time, full-time , or other . 7) Explain the ways in which your organization fulfills its mission. Please b e specific .

(Example s may include preservation planning, protection of buildings, number of surveyed buildings, nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, public education activities , or other issues deemed relevant by the applicant.) 8) Does your organization have a board-approved Diversity, Equity , and Inclusion (DEI) or other policy that specifically addresses targeted or oppressed staff, board members and audience members?

If yes, please include your typewritten public DEI policy and indicate the date of board approval. 9) How would you rank your organization's ability to provide access to your Visitors and Staff/Volunteers/Contractual Workers/Board Members who are Deaf or have a hearing loss / Blind or have low vision / Use a wheelchair or have limited mobility / Have a cognitive disability.

Ranking options are: No Access or Extremely Limited; Limited to Moderate; Moderate; Moderate to Excellent; Excellent Access . 10) Does your organization allocate funding to access-related expenses (i.e. , interpreters, audio describers, etc.)?

If yes, indicate 1) amount of funding allocated to access-related expenses for three (3) fiscal years - last completed, current , and next fiscal year (projected); 2) where such funding is in your budget (what line); and 3) brief description of the expense(s). Grant-Funded Local Historic Preservation Plan: Outline your grant-funded local preservation plan.

NOTE: Please use the table provided in Appendix A to outline your plan as well as in the narrative 1) What are the specific activities you plan to undertake in the area(s) of : a. Local Preservation Advocacy b. Preservation Education and Outreach c.

Historic Resource Identification 2) List the actions your organization will take to complete each activity . 3) What is your timeline for achieving these action steps? (Be as specific as possible) 4) How do these activities interface with your organization’s regular activities?

6) How do your goals and action steps align with the goals of the 2018-2023 SHPO Statewide Plan ? (See https://portal. ct.

gov/DECD/Content/Historic- Preservation/06_About_SHPO/About-SHPO-new )? 1) Itemized budget that delineates eligible grant activities. 2) If using funds to support staffing , submit a table identifying: b.

The number of hours that will be spent on each activity. c. Hourly rate of pay including the value of fringe benefits.

3) NOTE: CT SHPO is working toward ensuring that our grant-funded partners are paying at least a living wage for staff positions. The living wage in Connecticut for a single adult is $25. 28/hour.

(Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Connecticut). Wages for historic preservation professionals are in the following ranges: • Entry-level $20-26/hour • Senior-level $45-55/hour . 4) If your organization is not currently fulfilling this goal, describe how you plan to work toward offering a professional and/or living wage to your staff.

5) A signed statement committing matching funds. 6) A statement identifying the sources of the matching share and the amounts. Organizational readiness and attachments • Attach copies of other required state forms as found on the Application Cover Sheet .

• In order to collect better data on the organizations we fund and their audience, please include a table that denotes board and staff demographics by age (range is acceptable), and self-identification of gender and race. SHPO supports organizations where staff and board are reflective of the age, gender and racial composition of its service area.

8 | P a g e All complete applications will be reviewed by SHPO staff and considered for funding. Once an application is reviewed, SHPO will contact the applicant with any questions or to request points of clarification. The following criteria are the basis for the review: Quality of Local Historic preservation Plan: Preservation Plan clearly advances local preservation advocacy, education and awareness .

Plan includes specific and measurable outcomes Ability of the initiatives to have a clear and positive impact on local historic preservation efforts as demonstrated by qualitative and quantitative data . Ability to carry out the program: Thoroughness and appropriateness of budgets Feasibility of the work plan’s success, based on thorough planning as reflected in the narrative .

Please Send completed applications with all support materials to: Mary Dunne DECD/SHPO 450 Columbus Blvd. Suite 5 Hartford, Ct, 06103 Grant Award, State Contract and Request for Reimbursement A grant award letter and contract will be sent to the grantee following award by the Historic Preservation Council. Grant contracts must be signed and returned within 30 Days.

SHPO will 9 | P a g e not disburse funds without receipt of signed original contracts. Grant recipients are required to use funds for the purpose indicated on the contract and must seek and receive SHPO written approval for any changes or modifications to the contract.

Grantees are required to credit the “Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, State Historic Preservation Office” in all print, audio, video and internet materials, and all publicity materials. Grantees may request payment of the grant on a quarterly basis following the execution of a grant contract with DECD. Grant payments are made as a reimbursement to the grantee.

Grantees are required to submit a Request for Reimbursement for each quarter with fiscal documentation. Funded organizations are required to submit quarterly and year-end reports and a Final Report within 30 days of the completion of the program. Forms and instructions will be provided.

Failure to submit a final report will void eligibility for future funding from the SHPO.

The SHPO has the right to withhold, reduce , or cancel grants if a non-profit organization: • Owes final reports from previously received SHPO grants which are overdue • Fails to comply with the terms of the grant contract • Demonstrates inadequate financial management or oversight • Does not properly credit SHPO support Experien ces significant changes in programs or services, or cancels or suspends a funded project .

10 | P a g e # Local Preservation Partners Grant Chief Elected Official/Executive Director: Federal Employer ID Number: Municipality: State: ZIP Code: Municipality: State: ZIP Code: List any previous grants received from SHPO (include grant type, date awarded, and award amount): U.

S Representative’s Name: District # State Senator’s Name: District # State Representative ‘s Name: District # Name of Authorized Official: Signature: Date: 11 | P a g e Local Preservation Partners Grant Application Checklist Detailed Preservation Plan per guidelines 501(c)3 or 501(c)13 IRS tax status determination letter Certified Resolution authorizing contract signatory Staff and Board Demographics Table Appendix A Preservation Plan Signature: Date 12 | P a g e If you have questions regarding the ISCB Grant Application[,] please contact Mary Dunne at Mary.

Dunne@ct. gov or 860-500-2356