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The Tennessee Historical Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, has awarded 21 matching grants totaling over $800,000 from the Federal Historic Preservation Fund allocated to non-profits, municipalities, universities, and civic organizations across the state to support the preservation of historic and archaeological resources.

“The Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant program allows for the Tennessee Historical Commission to assist communities with projects that document and preserve our state’s significant historic properties. These projects are developed with care, supported locally through the required match, and show a true commitment to preservation,” said Patrick McIntyre, State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director. The Federal Historic Preservation Fund reimburses 60 percent of the project costs with a 40 percent match of project funds from the grantee. This year’s grant awards include a wide variety of historic and architectural projects, all listed below. 

Several projects this year continue previous projects such as the successful cemetery survey program in Nashville. Other grants will assist in funding preservation planners in seven of the state’s development districts and other grants are for posters highlighting the state’s archaeology and the restoration of historic buildings.

One of the agency’s grant priorities is for projects that are in Certified Local Governments, a program that allows the 50 enrolled communities to participate closely in the federal program of historic preservation. Certified Local Government communities are highly encouraged to apply, and for this round each CLG community that applied was funded including a grant to Clarksville/Montgomery County for the development of downtown urban design guidelines, the City of Paris to restore windows in the Lee School, and the City of Rogersville to continue restoration of the Powell Law Office.

Additional priorities include those that meet the goals and objectives of the Tennessee Historical Commission’s plan for historic preservation. Properties that use the grant funds for restoration projects must be listed in the National Register. Applications for the next round of Federal Historic Preservation Fund grants will open in December 2024.

Locally, grants were awarded to:

– Roan Mountain State Park, $11,500 to fund the Miller Farmstead Archaeology and Preservation Plan

– East Tennessee Development District, $40,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the East Tennessee Development District

– First Tennessee Development District, $39,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the First Tennessee Development District