NBRC grants will boost historic preservation in 11 Maine counties
Photo / Maureen Milliken
The closed Lincoln Paper and Tissue Mill looms over the town. The town, affected by the recent mill closing, is in one of 11 counties eligible for new Norther Border Regional Commission grants aimed at historic preservation.
Maine nonprofits, towns and cities in 11 counties are eligible for grants under a new historic preservation program from the Norther Border Regional Commission.
Yarmouth-based Maine Preservation will share $1 million with similar organizations in New Hampshire, Vermont and New York as part of the Northeast Heritage Economic Program. The program is part of the Regional Forest Economy Partnership, formed last year by the commission to help areas of the four states affected by the decline in the forest industry.
The four preservation organizations will provide grants to “shovel-ready” nonprofit and municipally owned historic rehabilitation projects that have matching funds in hand.
To be eligible for grants, programs must be in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo or Washington counties. The aim is to "help communities undertake locally driven historic preservation projects with strong community and economic revitalization potential," said a news release from Maine Preservation.
Studies show that historic preservation investment supports small business and well-paying jobs, improves property values, keeps money circulating in local economies, and catalyzes additional investment, the release said.
The Regional Forest Economy Partnership, an NBRC program that began last year, made the award. The partnership was driven by a desire to focus on innovative initiatives that take a regional approach in addressing the decline in forest-based economies, the release said. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership for economic and community development that distributes federal funds to the four states to support economic development.
“I am happy that the Northern Border Regional Commission chose to support the work being done by the Northeast Heritage Economic Program,” said Heather Johnson, commissioner of economic and community development in the release. “As we work toward statewide economic growth, it is important to support communities as they invest in these rehabilitation projects.”
Greg Paxton, executive director of Maine Preservation, said that the organization is excited about the program.
"We are looking forward to engaging in tactical investments that foster revitalization efforts in affected communities in Maine,” he said.
The details, including specific deadlines, haven't been announced yet, but applications will have to be made in the coming months, Paxton told Mainebiz Wednesday.
"It's a tight time frame," he said. Projects have to be underway and part of a committed effort, and be able to show in the process they have matching funds, to be eligible.
They also will have to show what economic impact they can have, he said, adding that grant-worthy projects could include those by libraries, arts centers and community hubs, among others.
Last year was the first year of the Regional Forest Economy Partnership initiative, and the commission received a wide range of applications from new and established organizations, the release said.
The heritage grants is a new initiative that's part of that program. The other organizations in the program are the N.H. Preservation Alliance, the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Preservation League of New York State. The money for the preservation program, as well as all other NBRC programs, is available with the support of the congressional delegations of the four states served by the commission.
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