Grants
Grants
- What is the statutory authority for the grants program?
- How is the program funded?
- Who may apply for a historic preservation grant?
- What types of projects are eligible for grant assistance?
- Does a structure have to be “historic” to be eligible for the Historic Preservation Grants Program?
- Can I get a grant to rehabilitate my home or business?
- How do I obtain a historic preservation grant application?
- When is the application submission period?
- Is there a guide on how to apply for grant assistance?
- What are the match requirements for the grants program?
- Are match requirements ever reduced or waived?
- How are applications evaluated?
- Is it necessary to attend the public application review meeting?
- What criteria are used in the review process?
- Is grant funding guaranteed if my application is recommended by the Secretary of State?
- How are funds allocated for historic preservation grants?
- When will I find out if my organization’s application received funding?
- In what manner are grant funds provided?
- What is the duration of the grant period?
- Do I have to submit updates on my project to DHR?
- May I hire consultants, contractors, and/or vendors to do the required grant work for my project?
- Is there a way to receive notifications about grants news and events?
Q: What is the statutory authority for the grants program?
A: The Historic Preservation Grants Program is administered in accordance with Chapter 267.0617, Florida Statutes, Chapter 1A-39, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), and the program's guidelines, which are incorporated by reference into Rule 1A-39.001, F.A.C. and available for download on our program’s Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
A: The amount of funding to be awarded is determined by the Florida Legislature during the legislative session for the fiscal year for which grant funding is requested. The Legislature’s budget must be signed into law by the Governor. Funds formally appropriated officially become available on July 1 of the year of appropriation.
An apportionment of the Historic Preservation Fund, a federal grant administered by the National Park Service, is also available to Certified Local Governments (CLG) for Small Matching grants. (See FAQs for CLGs)
Q: Who may apply for a historic preservation grant?
A: Division of Historical Resources (DHR) grant funds are available only for non-profit organizations, state agencies (including universities), local governments, and units of local governments. Projects funded by the Historic Preservation Grants Program must serve the public interest and must be accessible to the public.
Q: What types of projects are eligible for grant assistance?
A: The Historic Preservation Grants Program has two Grant types—Small Matching and Special Category—through which a variety of project types are funded. These include:
| Small Matching: | Special Category: |
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For descriptions and examples of each project type, please review the Division Grant Guidelines and How to Apply webinar presentations available for download on our program’s Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
Q: Does a structure have to be “historic” to be eligible for the Historic Preservation Grants Program?
A: Yes, for site-specific projects, a structure must be historically significant to be eligible for our grants program. Generally, a structure is considered “historic” after 50 or more years, but our grants program does not have a minimum age required to apply.
Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places or that have been designated as National Historic Landmarks may be considered highly competitive. However, there is no requirement of listing at the local or national level to be eligible for a historic preservation grant.
Any work to be conducted on a property using grant assistance (both state and federal) must be carried out in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation. Please see these standards and additional information at https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm.
Q: Can I get a grant to rehabilitate my home or business?
A: DHR grant funds are available only for non-profit organizations, state agencies (including universities), local governments, and units of local governments. Projects funded by the Historic Preservation Grants Program must serve the public interest and must be accessible to the public. Therefore, DHR grant funds are not available for properties owned by private individuals or for-profit corporations.
If you are seeking funding assistance for a privately owned historic home or business, you may be eligible for tax reductions, low-interest loans, or grants available from the federal government, your city or county government, or private advocacy organizations. For more information, you may download this letter.
Q: How do I obtain a historic preservation grant application?
A: The Historic Preservation Grants Program utilizes the Department of State online grants portal. Grant applications must be completed and submitted using this online grants portal during the announced application submission periods.
All applicants must register at dosgrants.com and be associated with their organization in the portal. If you would like to access a sample application, please visit our program's Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
Q: When is the application submission period?
A: The Historic Preservation Grants Program holds one application submission period each year for both Small Matching and Special Category grants. The submission period typically begins April 1 and concludes June 1 when all applications are due.
During that time, applications must be submitted via the Department of State online grants portal. An announcement detailing the application submission period will be released on the main grants web page at www.flheritage.com/grants shortly before the period begins.
Q: Is there a guide on how to apply for grant assistance?
A: The Historic Preservation Grants Program offers webinars on How to Apply for a Small Matching Grant and How to Apply for a Special Category Grant at the beginning of the application submission period each year. PDF versions are available on our program’s Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
Q: What are the match requirements for the grants program?
A: Both Small Matching and Special Category grants require a 100% match of the requested grant funds. Please see below for exceptions to these match requirements.
Q: Are match requirements ever reduced or waived?
A: Match requirements are reduced/waived in three cases:
Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI)
For Small Matching grant applications, the match requirement for proposed projects located in Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and counties is waived in full (0% match). For Special Category grant applications, the match requirement for proposed projects located in REDI communities and counties is reduced to 25% of the requested Grant Award.
NOTE: Applicant organizations that are state agencies, state colleges, or state universities are not eligible for REDI waivers/reductions and must provide a 1:1 match regardless of proposed project location.
The REDI Program is administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity. Please contact DEO for the most up-to-date information on REDI designation.
Certified Local Government (CLG)
For Small Matching grant applications submitted by Certified Local Governments (CLG) in good standing, the match requirement is waived. The Florida CLG Program is administered by DHR. Please contact the CLG coordinator for information on CLG designation.
For Small Matching grant applications submitted by active Main Street programs, the match requirement is waived. The Florida Main Street Program is administered by DHR. Please contact the Main Street Program coordinator for information.
Q: How are applications evaluated?
A: DHR staff reviews submitted applications for eligibility and completes a technical review of the eligible applications. A staff report is then prepared for each eligible application. Applications are subsequently reviewed and scored by the Grant Application Review Panel for Small Matching grants or the Florida Historical Commission (FHC) for Special Category grants at their respective public application review meetings.
The Small Matching grant application review public meeting is held via webinar only. Applicants may participate by registering for the webinar and calling in during the meeting times. The Special Category grant application review public meeting is typically held in-person (as circumstances allow) and via webinar. Applicants may participate by attending in-person or by registering for the webinar and calling in during the meeting times.
After the public discussion of all projects, application scores are averaged, and all applications are ranked according to their total average score. A final priority list of applications with a total average score of 80 or above is submitted to the Secretary of State for review and approval. The Secretary of State then provides the approved list to the Legislature who may use it to make funding decisions.
Q: Is it necessary to attend the public application review meeting?
A: Although it is not required, attending the public meeting is strongly encouraged. Lack of application representation is often noted by the reviewers. Call-in participation is available and is highly recommended if the applicant cannot attend in person. Applicants are given instructions for telephone participation in advance of the public meetings.
Formal presentations are not allowed at the public meetings, and no new material can be submitted at that time, but applicants should be prepared to answer questions from the reviewers.
Q: What criteria are used in the review process?
A: Applications are evaluated according to their conformance with both the Statewide Preservation Priorities and the program’s Application Review Criteria. The Statewide Preservation Priorities are listed with each solicitation for applications. The Review Criteria are explained in the Guidelines, as well as in both the How to Apply for a Small Matching Grant and How to Apply for a Special Category Grant presentations posted on our program’s Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
Q: Is grant funding guaranteed if my application is recommended by the Secretary of State?
A: Funding is not guaranteed. Funding of individual awards is based on the amount of funding appropriated by the Legislature in the annual budget and as signed into law by the Governor. Applications with a total average score of 80 or above as scored by the Grant Application Review Panel or the Florida Historical Commission will be funded according to the order of the ranked priority list approved by the Secretary of State until the total funding amount has been allocated.
Q: How are funds allocated for historic preservation grants?
A: After eligible grant applications are ranked either by the Grant Application Review Panel or the Florida Historical Commission, the recommended list is submitted to the Secretary of State for review. The Secretary of State will then provide the Legislature with an approved ranked priority list for funding consideration.
The amount of funding to be awarded for grant assistance is determined by the Florida Legislature during the regular legislative session (following application submission) and is based on the Legislative Budget Request submitted to the Legislature by the Secretary of State.
The approved budget is signed into law by the Governor, and the grant funds appropriated by the Legislature are then awarded according to the order of the project rankings until all funds are allocated. If awarded, applicants will be notified by the grants program. Although grant funds become available on July 1, funds will not be distributed until specific benchmarks in the Grant Award Agreement are met.
Q: When will I find out if my organization’s application received funding?
A: Funding for historic preservation grants is contingent on an annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature, which is submitted to the Governor for review and approval and is subject to veto by the Governor.
Confirmation of funding cannot be definitively provided until the Governor has signed the funding into law, at which time the Division will send award letters to those organizations whose projects will receive funding in accordance with the ranked list of applications.
Q: In what manner are grant funds provided?
A: If selected for funding, a proposed project will be provided funds in fixed price allotments disbursed as deliverables established in the Grant Award Agreement are completed and approved by DHR.
For specifics regarding payment, please review the Division Grant Guidelines and How to Manage Your Grant webinar presentations available on our program’s Small Matching and Special Category webpages.
Q: What is the duration of the grant period?
A: Small Matching grants begin July 1 and end one year later on June 30. Special Category grants begin July 1 and end two years later on June 30.
Q: Do I have to submit updates on my project to DHR?
A: All Grantees are required to submit quarterly Progress Reports via the online grants portal at dosgrants.com. These reports track your project’s status and the grant and/or match funds expended and should include additional required documentation specified in the Grant Award Agreement. Other forms, submitted via dosgrants.com, are required to request payment and to evidence meeting project benchmarks.
Q: May I hire consultants, contractors, and/or vendors to do the required grant work for my project?
A: Yes, you may. Of importance to note:
- The need to hire professional assistance should be reflected in your application scope of work and budget. However, you do not need to have already selected the vendor by the time of application. It is best to wait until funding is confirmed.
- All vendors must be selected via an open and competitive procurement process, per Section 287, Florida Statute, and Chapter 60A-1.002, Florida Administrative Code. If you have questions about procurement, DHR staff can assist you with the requirements for the competitive selection of a vendor.
- Professionals hired to complete the project work must have appropriate professional credentials, which must be approved either at the time of application or prior to employment for the project.
- All contracts must be approved by DHR prior to execution.
- Even when hiring professionals, the Grantee is responsible for the submission of Deliverables on schedule and for documenting all work and expenditures.
- Most development projects will require an architect to design and oversee the progress of the work. All preservation work must be executed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, which requires the oversight of a qualified architect.
Q: Is there a way to receive notifications about grants news and events?
A: If you would like to receive emails regarding grants news and events (such as an announcement of open applications, notice of scheduled review meetings, etc.), you may subscribe to the DHR Grants Program emailing list by clicking HERE and entering your information.
