Historic Restoration Fund Grants (HRF)

Overview

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) offers matching, reimbursement Historic Restoration Fund (HRF) grants of up to $100,000 to Connecticut municipalities and 501(c)3 and 501(c)13 nonprofits for capital projects or archaeological site preservation, protection, and stabilization at historic properties listed on the State or National Registers of Historic Places. HRF Grants are funded by the Community Investment Act (also known as Public Act 05-228), which was signed into law on July 11, 2005. The Act provides increased funding for historic preservation as well as open space, farmland preservation, and affordable housing.

 Key Grant Details:

  • Grant awards range from $5,000 - $100,000
  • Grant awards must be matched on a one-to-one basis
  • Grant funds are paid on a single-payment reimbursement basis following project completion
  • Hard costs are eligible, pre-development costs are not eligible
  • Work must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
  • Grants cannot be awarded for work already completed or in progress
  • Property must be owned or leased (20-year minimum) by the applicant
  • A preservation easement must be placed on the property following project completion
  • Facilities must be open to the public or work must be visible to the public

Learn More and Get Started:

Preservation Restrictions/Easements

A preservation easement of up to 10 years must also be placed on the property following completion of the project.

SHPO annually administers between 60 and 100 preservation restrictions on historic properties. They usually result from previous rehabilitation/restoration grants provided to properties owned by municipalities or nonprofit organizations.

You must obtain written approval from the SHPO's Historic Preservation Council prior to performing any work on the property other than routine maintenance.

See a sample restriction.

Contact

For HRF Grants:

Erin Fink, Architectural Preservationist

T: 860.500.2426

E: Erin.Fink@ct.gov

For Preservation Restrictions/Easements: Contact Julie Carmelich at (860) 500-2362 or julie.carmelich@ct.gov.