Second Round of 2015 NYS Preservation Grants Open to the Region

NYLON – The second round of grant applications has begun for eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations competing for Technical Assistance Grants (TAG), a signature grant program of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

According to the Preservation League of New York State, the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall in Portage and the Livingston County Museum in Geneseo were TAG recipients in 2014. Applications are open through Sept. 8 for a total of $28,690, which includes $18,690 from NYSCA and $10,000 from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which is to be awarded within the corridor.

“Through its grant programs, the League has strategically invested in the rehabilitation of historic places, leveraged significant additional cash and in-kind resources, and protected properties at the local, state and national level through landmark designations,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “These grants help the League’s growing constituency conserve, protect and use their cultural resources, and are an important catalyst in realizing community preservation goals.”

The first of two grant rounds for 2015 awarded $19,923 to seven projects in seven counties in the spring, including the Corning/Painted-Post Historical Society in Steuben County.

The program is designed to preserve historic sites, museums, opera houses and theaters, arts facilities and other culturally important institutions that are located in historic buildings and structures that are open to the public.

The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall in Portage has an iconic meeting place for over 133 years. However, this vernacular brick building has suffered from moisture infiltration. The town will complete a conditions study and receive recommendations for achieving accessibility from the selected consultant, Johnson-Schmidt and Associates, Architects of Corning. The result will help the town care for its National Register- listed landmark and increase its use by area cultural groups.

The former District 5 School is the home of the Livingston County Museum in Geneseo, operated for nearly 100 years by the Livingston County Historical Society. Following recommendations of a historic structure report, the group is addressing issues of building care in phases. This rare 1838 cobblestone building is a contributing property in the Geneseo National Landmark Historic district. Given the museum’s growing visitation, there is a pressing need for universal accessibility. This project, to be completed by Bero Architecture of Rochester, will provide the institution with realistic accessibility options that respect architectural integrity.

Visit the Preservation League’s website at www.preservenys.org or call 518-462-5658 x 10 to discuss proposed projects with Preservation League staff before receiving an application.

Grant amounts will not exceed $3,000 and the total cost of the applicant’s project may not exceed $3,500. Each applicant must provide $500 toward the total project cost.

The Preservation League invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth, and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. It focuses on advocacy, economic development and education programs across New York State.

The Technical Assistance Grant program is made possible through funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.