State Historic Preservation Office Awards Local Grants through Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program

LANSING, Mich. – The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has awarded approximately $673,000 in grants to support preservation of and reinvestment in historic buildings in rural communities across the state, the Michigan Strategic Fund announced today. The grants represent awards from the SHPO’s Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program, supported by one-time funding from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program, administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. SHPO’s program was established to strengthen the office’s direct assistance and support to property owners in the state’s rural areas, where funding opportunities may be limited, especially for historic buildings.

“Through the SHPO’s Statewide Preservation Plan engagement process, we consistently heard from rural communities about their need for financial support to preserve historic downtowns and community corridors,” said Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer Ryan M. Schumaker. “With funding from the National Park Service, the Rural Heritage Partnership Program is now supporting preservation efforts in eight communities and helping to use those projects as catalysts for economic development and community pride. We’re excited to offer this funding opportunity to rural communities across Michigan.”

Grant awards range from $51,000 to $100,000 and are being provided to eight communities across both peninsulas, including in Alpena, Benzie, Berrien, Calhoun, Iron, Keweenaw, Sanilac, and Shiawassee Counties. Funds will support critical work on buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of places deemed worthy of preservation.

This work includes supporting the activation of vacant buildings and addressing essential needs such as foundation stabilization, roof replacement, and masonry repair to protect buildings from structural deterioration and water infiltration. Awards are being made to the following applicants:

Albion: Albion District Library Rehabilitation

The Albion District Library is being awarded $100,000 to address ongoing water infiltration issues that are actively threatening the 1919 Carnegie library and causing damage to both the interior and exterior. The project will support stabilization and rehabilitation of the failed front entry and remediate drainage issues along the foundation and is an essential first step in a larger accessibility, stabilization, and resilience project anticipated at the library over the next several years. 

“These SHPO grant funds are a vital part of addressing the challenges faced by water intrusion Albion District Library faces as a centennial building in a river community,” said Cynthia Stanczak, library director. “It's been painful to see the damage happening to our original Carnegie building, and we're excited to see it remedied, with SHPO's help.”

Alpena: 307 South Third Avenue Redevelopment

The Alpena Downtown Development Authority is being awarded $100,000 to support stabilization of the vacant former Pontiac and Cadillac building at 307 South Third Avenue for redevelopment as the Alpena Food Co-Op. Funds will be used to replace the deteriorated roof to prevent further damage, develop design drawings for the storefront, and complete the first phase of storefront rehabilitation, setting the stage for activation of this building in the Alpena Central Historic District. 

“The Alpena DDA is grateful to receive a grant through this Rural Heritage Grant Program to protect and preserve a key mid-century building in Downtown Alpena,” said Anne Gentry, executive director, Alpena DDA. “Last year, our downtown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and this building at 307 South Third Ave was one of the new buildings listed. This grant is essential to rehabilitate this former car dealership and prepare it for its next tenant, providing additional economic activity to this part of our downtown and continue telling our community’s story.”

Alpha: Alpha Porter Gymnasium Masonry Rehabilitation Project

Alpha Porter Gym, a non-profit organization, is receiving $100,000 to support rehabilitation and activation of the vacant 1914 Alpha Porter Gym, part of the Alpha Public Buildings Historic Complex, as a community center. The project includes reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged exterior masonry to ensure the building is weathertight and mitigate ongoing deterioration so that it can once again benefit residents of the Village of Alpha and surrounding communities. 

"The Alpha Porter Gym is honored to receive this grant from SHPO which will allow us to repair the brick on the Historic Gym, said Lydia Novitsky, project manager. “Without this financial support, the project could not move forward with the integrity needed to prepare for a future of continued community use. With this grant, the Alpha Porter Gym will stand proudly, with doors open, serving Alpha and Iron County once again. Many thanks to the MEDC, and SHPO, for selecting our community project, and helping us through the process along the way."

Benzonia: Mills Community House Masonry Stabilization

The Mills Community House Association, a non-profit organization, is receiving $51,000 to address ongoing and critical masonry deterioration at the 1909 Mills Community House, which is a community center and the home of the Benzonia Public Library. The work will help ensure the building’s structural integrity, ensuring it can continue to provide functional, accessible community space for music, theater performances, and community outreach and events.

Berrien Township: South Berrien Center Union Church Rehabilitation

Berrien Township is receiving $57,000 to help facilitate activation of the vacant 1857 South Berrien Center Union Church for future community use, including educational activities, heritage tourism, and local events. Funds will support installation of new mechanical/HVAC systems and entrance stabilization, which are critical to preserving the structure, providing safe access to the public, and enabling work to continue the larger rehabilitation program.

“South Berrien Union Church has been part of our community since 1857, and this grant allows Berrien Township to preserve an important piece of our history for generations to come, said Cynthia Layman, trustee. “Restoring this landmark means welcoming visitors to our area and keeping a beloved gathering place alive for the families who call this community home.”

“The restoration of South Berrien Union Church is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens our region,” said Jenni Leich, director, Central Berrien Chamber Growth Alliance. “Preserving landmarks like this one supports the character and history that make Southwest Michigan such a special place to live, work and visit.”

Eagle Harbor: Eagle Harbor Fog Signal Building Roof Rehabilitation

The Keweenaw County Historical Society is receiving $100,000 to support a systematic rehabilitation of the 1895 Eagle Harbor Fog Signal Building. Funds will be used to rehabilitate the building’s historic corrugated iron roof panels and address deteriorated roofing to prevent further water infiltration and provide a weathertight building shell so that the building can continue to house ongoing educational programming as the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse’s maritime museum.

"This grant allows KCHS to restore the Fog Signal Building's original 1895 iron-plate exterior while preserving the evidence of the many changes in how it functioned over the years, so the building can keep telling its story to the current generation and those that follow,” said Gerald L. Hintz, Jr., KCHS project coordinator. “As part of the Eagle Harbor Light Station Complex, the Fog Signal Building helps the Keweenaw County Historical Society educate the public about the maritime shipping industry and its importance to the early mining era as the lifeline that brought supplies in and carried copper out of the Keweenaw when there was no other way.  We're grateful for the support this grant provides in preserving this history."

Owosso: Lebowsky Center Historic Masonry Rehabilitation

The 1926 Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts, located in the Owosso Downtown Historic District, is receiving $80,500 to rehabilitate deteriorating masonry on all four elevations, which will correct years of cumulative mortar failure, brick damage, and water infiltration that has caused active leaking and undermines the building’s ability to provide community programming. The project helps to prevent new deterioration, minimize the potential for ongoing issues, and ensure the building can continue to provide community programming for the long term.

“This grant is a gamechanger for the Lebowsky Center,” said Kathy Brooks, executive director. “We are honored to be the custodians of this 100-year-old landmark and deeply grateful for the investment being made in its future. The Lebowsky has been an important part of this community for generations, and this grant will help us preserve it for generations still to come.”

Port Sanilac: Loop-Harrison House Rehabilitation

The Sanilac County Historical Society is receiving $85,000 to rehabilitate the exterior of the 1872 Loop-Harrison House, part of the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum, by addressing deteriorated porches, failed and missing drainage systems, masonry, and foundation water infiltration. The project will address immediate structural needs and active causes of deterioration, setting the stage for a long-term rehabilitation program designed to ensure the property is able to continue to serve the community through educational and cultural programming.

“This grant opportunity has been long awaited,” said Dan Finn, administrator, Sanilac County Historical Society. “We have needed, for some time, resources to provide serious attention to the rehabilitation of our cornerstone heritage building, the Loop-Harrison House. There are rotting issues and water damage on points of the building's front-facing iconic features. This grant provides us full confidence in meeting a satisfactory result in addressing these festering problems on our legacy structure. Without this grant, resolution of these issues would remain uncertain and may have risked extending damage to an unaffordable and unsalvageable level.”

Project Funding

This program is supported through a grant from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program as administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior. 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.

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/.

 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.