The Maine Community Foundation is seeking applications for its Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Grant Program to invest in the preservation, restoration, and retrofitting of historic buildings in Maine.
Donor Name: Maine Community Foundation
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 06/01/2022
Size of the Grant: $5,000 – $20,000
Details:
Grants from this fund focus on capital investments in historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities.
Priorities
Priority will be given to proposals that most meet the following priorities:
- Properties with historical significance at the local, state, or national level
- Buildings that are utilized by and provide value to the community, or a compelling vision for the revitalization and reuse if the building has been vacant or underutilized
- Proposals that include a clear project plan that preserves the historic integrity of the building
- Organizations that demonstrate commitment to ongoing stewardship of the building and readiness to complete the project.
Types of Funding
This program provides project grants for three types of projects. Proposals may combine restoration expenses with an energy audit or efficiency-related expenses. However, applicants may not submit proposals that include both an energy audit and energy efficiency implementation, as implementation must be based on the results of a completed audit. Proposals can include the cost of labor, technology, materials, and equipment related to the restoration of energy efficiency work on the building.
- Restoration: Restoration projects include expenses related to the preservation, restoration, and reuse of historic buildings. This can include professional assessments, surveys, and plans by qualified assessors, engineers, or other building professionals. Restoration requests may also include energy efficiency measures recommended by an audit as long as the request does not exceed the maximum grant size.
- Energy audit: Proposals should include a written cost estimate from an auditor. The audit must include an executive summary that details the recommended efficiency measures in order of priority as well as the estimated time frame for the return on investment for each efficiency measure.
- Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency implementation projects include energy efficiency measures recommended by an energy audit. The proposal must be consistent with priorities identified by the audit. The audit executive summary must be included with the application (if the applicant does not have a summary, they may attach the full audit report). The audit must have been performed within three years to be current. Applicants must identify methods for measuring the impact of the efficiency measures. Energy efficiency grants may include other capital restoration expenses as long as the total request does not exceed the maximum grant size and if the requested restoration work ensures the integrity of the efficiency investment (i.e., moisture abatement, foundation or stabilization measures, or roof repairs). Energy implementation plans should reflect best practices for energy efficiency improvements to historic properties. Priority will be given to projects that also transition to cleaner energy sources and away from fossil fuels.
Funding Information
The maximum total grant award is $20,000. The maximum amount awarded for an energy audit is $5,000.
Eligible Expenses
Grant requests may include the cost of labor, technology, materials, and equipment related to the restoration of energy efficiency work on the building. Grants may also support design and engineering costs related to restoration as well as the cost of building assessments by qualified preservation professionals.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit, charitable organizations are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and also classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)
- Municipalities
- Public schools
- Public agencies working for the State of Maine
- Indian tribal governments (or political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
- Groups without any tax status may apply with a fiscal sponsor that is an eligible organization.
To receive a grant, the building must:
- Be owned by a nonprofit organization or municipality or quasi-municipal entity.
- Be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, be determined eligible for listing on the Register, or be a contributing building in a nationally designated historic district.
For more information, visit Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency.
