Michigan State Historic Preservation Office Awards Historic Preservation Grants to Six Michigan Communities

LANSING, Mich. – The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has awarded $250,000 in grants to six Michigan communities, the Michigan Strategic Fund announced today. The grants represent awards from the federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF)—Certified Local Government (CLG) program administered by the SHPO and will benefit local preservation and community planning goals in Battle Creek, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Mason, Saginaw and Detroit.

“The Certified Local Government program continues to be one of the strongest tools for supporting historic preservation projects at the local level,” said State Historic Preservation Officer Ryan M. Schumaker. “We are pleased to support this year’s awardees as they build on ongoing initiatives to document, preserve and tell the story of important historic places in their communities.”

The CLG program is a partnership among local, state and national governments focused on promoting historic preservation at the local level. The National Park Service administers the program in coordination with the SHPO. Participation in the program, which is open to any community willing to meet basic program requirements, makes a community eligible for specialized technical assistance and programming from the SHPO.

Participation in the CLG program also makes a community eligible for annual grants provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior and administered by the SHPO. These grants may be used for a variety of preservation activities, such as historic resource surveys, National Register of Historic Places nominations, educational and heritage tourism initiatives, pre-development plans and studies and rehabilitation of certain historic properties.

This year’s grant recipients include:

City of Battle Creek

• The City of Battle Creek is receiving a grant to hire a qualified preservation consultant to create a set of comprehensive historic preservation design guidelines for the City’s local historic districts. The guidelines will equip the City’s Historic District Commission with the tools necessary to help guide historic preservation activities into the future and provide current and future property owners with a better understanding of preservation best practices.

City of East Lansing

• The City of East Lansing is receiving a grant to create a resource guide for the City’s local historic districts. Targeted toward current and prospective property owners, contractors, and other community stakeholders, the guide will enhance understanding of preservation best practices and seek to encourage responsible stewardship of the City’s irreplaceable heritage assets.

City of Kalamazoo

• The City of Kalamazoo is receiving a grant to hire a qualified contractor to prepare a condition assessment report for the Kalamazoo City Hall. Built in 1931, the city hall building is a fine example of Art Deco architecture and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bronson Park Historic District. This document will provide the City with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding future preservation treatments at the property.

City of Mason

• The City of Mason is receiving a grant to hire a qualified contractor to complete rehabilitation of historic windows at the Mason Public Library. The building has served as a community library since its construction in 1939 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of Mason’s downtown historic district. The project is part of an ongoing, multi-phase rehabilitation program for the building, intended to ensure that the building remains a viable community resource for future generations.

City of Saginaw

• The City of Saginaw is receiving a grant to complete masonry repair and rehabilitation at the Saginaw County Fairgrounds Main Gate. Completed in 1929 and exhibiting Craftsman architectural influences, the gate house served as the main entry to the fairgrounds for more than 70 years. This grant will contribute to ongoing rehabilitation efforts by the City to protect and reinvest in the property, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Motor City Theatre Organ Society/City of Detroit

• The Motor City Theatre Organ Society, through the City of Detroit, is receiving a grant to hire a qualified contractor to complete rehabilitation of historic steel windows at the Redford Theatre, an atmospheric theatre completed in 1928 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The window project complements ongoing rehabilitation efforts at the theatre and the project will have a wider benefit through the inclusion of a hands-on window repair workshop for volunteers and community members.

CLG grants are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Eligible applicants include Michigan's 42 CLG communities, which may partner with a non-profit organization or other public entity. The State Historic Preservation Office welcomes innovative proposals that promote historic preservation.  For more information on the CLG program and funding opportunities, visit http://www.michigan.gov/CLGgrants.

Federal Credit 
This material was produced with assistance from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior under Grant Number P25AF01198. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties.  Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. Michigan law prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, or disability.  If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to:

Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity Programs

United States Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1849 C Street, NW, MS-2740

Washington, DC 20240

About the State Historic Preservation Office
Focused on the historic preservation of culturally or archaeologically significant sites throughout the state, Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office’s main function is to provide technical assistance to local communities and property owners in their efforts to identify, evaluate, designate, interpret and protect Michigan’s historic above- and below-ground resources. SHPO also administers an incentives program that includes state and federal tax credits and pass-through grants available to Certified Local Governments.

To learn more about the State Historic Preservation Office and the Certified Local Government program, visit https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/.

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