MDF’s Maine Downtown Center Accepting Applications for National Park Service REvitalizeME Gen 2 Grants to Support Historic Preservation in Rural Downtowns

HALLOWELL, Maine – January 12, 2022 – The Maine Development Foundation (MDF)’s Maine Downtown Center is accepting applications for grant funding through the National Park Service (NPS) REvitalizeME Gen 2 program. A total of $660,000 is available for historic preservation projects that will foster economic development in 22 downtowns that are current National Main Street or Maine Downtown Affiliate designated programs.

“It’s wonderful that Maine has received this funding again and other downtown projects will benefit from it like we did,” says Michael Miclon, Executive Director, Johnson Hall, Gardiner, Maine, one of six Maine projects awarded funds through the 2020 REvitalizeME round of grants. “The grant enabled us to repair our historic windows and masonry and really close the gap on our 5-year capital campaign for Johnson Hall, which is a downtown community hub and significant historic theater.”

The program provides much-needed financial capacity to encourage infrastructure development and leverage private sector investment increasing the commercial, educational, residential, or civic use and value of the historic properties. Projects may include physical preservation projects for historic sites, architectural/engineering services, and technical assistance. Funding in the form of subgrants will be awarded through a competitive program that will be administered by MDF in partnership with Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

“This National Park Service program not only supports historic preservation, but also fosters economic development in rural communities,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge. “By funding the rehabilitation of historic properties, rural areas across the country will be improved and strengthened.”

The application deadline is 5:00pm on March 1, 2022. The grant application, list of eligible communities, and requirements are available at https://www.mdf.org.

REvitalizeME Gen 2 is supported through a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.