The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is inviting local governments and nonprofits to apply for grants through its Keystone Historic Preservation program.
Through the program, $2 million is being made available statewide to preserve and promote historic and archeological resources. To qualify, resources must be either listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Two categories of grant are available:
- Construction: $5,000 to $100,000 for “rehabilitation, preservation and restoration” of resources that are publicly accessible.
- Planning: $5,000 to $25,000 for “planning and development initiatives that enhance historic preservation.”
The grants require a 50%/50% financial match. Applications are made through the Department of Community & Economic Development’s submission portal. The deadline is March 1; decisions on awards are expected in June.
For more information, click here. The commission advises prospective applicants to attend one of its informational webinars: The one for construction grants is 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 (registration); the one for planning grants is 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 (registration here).
Recordings will be available afterward on the commission’s YouTube channel.
In 2023, three Lancaster County projects received grants. The city of Lancaster received $25,000 for a study of the historic County Prison site next to Reservoir Park, in preparation for its reuse once the correctional facility moves to Lancaster Township.
YWCA Lancaster received $99,827 for the restoration of its headquarters’ porch as part of its YForward renovation project; and the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society received $100,000 toward preserving the Hans Herr House.
