The Historic Site Preservation Grant Program (HSPG)

Purpose of HSPG

The Historic Site Preservation Grant Program (HSPG) was created in 1998. The State Historical Society of Iowa is committed to encouraging cultural growth and development throughout the state of Iowa. The Historic Site Preservation Grant provides funds to acquire, repair, rehabilitate, and develop historic sites that preserve, interpret, or promote Iowa’s cultural heritage. Projects funded by this program must promote an understanding of the record of human experience within Iowa.

All HSPG projects are limited to work on “vertical infrastructure,” which is defined in Iowa Code Chapter 8.57 as “land acquisition for construction, major rehabilitation of buildings, all appurtenant structures, utilities, and site developments.” Activities that are not directly related to vertical infrastructure cannot be funded through the HSPG Program.

Deadlines and Project Dates

HSPG grant applications are due September 14th of each year. When September 14th falls on a weekend, applications are due the next business day.

If applications are sent through the U.S. mail, they must be postmarked no later than the grant deadline date. Private delivery services, such as FedEx, UPS, or Airborne Express, must clearly show a posting date no later than the grant deadline date. Metered mail is not accepted, as it is impossible to verify the posting date. If you plan to hand-deliver your application, it must arrive in the State Historical Society’s grants office by 4:30 p.m. on the day of the deadline. Applications sent by fax or email will not be considered.

Applications due in September 2009 will be funded with FY10 grant monies. The amount of HSPG monies available for this grant round is $980,000.

Applications received in September 2009 will be reviewed during the fall and winter. Funded grants will be under contract by February 1, 2010.

Projects should be completed within 30 months after the signing of a grant contract. Applicants that submit a proposal in September 2009 should plan for a project to be initiated about February 1, 2010, and to be completed by approximately July 31, 2012.

Restrictions & Administrative Rules

The HSPG Administrative Rules stipulate:

• The maximum allowable grant request is $100,000.
• The minimum allowable grant request is $40,000.
• Projects require dollar-for-dollar cash match. Thus, the smallest allowable project costs $80,000. This includes a $40,000 grant request, along with $40,000 of cash match.
• State funds shall not be used as cash match for this program.
• Indirect costs and staff salaries shall not be used as match.
• No more than $200,000 may be awarded within a single county in any grant cycle.
• An applicant may submit only one grant application per funding cycle.
• Projects that receive funding through the HSPG program are ineligible to apply again for three years from the date of the grant award.
• If the Legislature earmarked funds for a project in the current fiscal year, then that project is not eligible for funding through the HSPG program during the same fiscal year.

The complete administrative rules for the HSPG program

Questions?

Contact kristen.vandermolen@iowa.gov.