Last updated: October 22, 2021
Article
NPS Preservation Grant Provides a New Level of Support for Wheeling’s Historic Structures

Wheeling NHA
The National Park Service recently announced that the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation (WNHAC), the managing entity for Wheeling National Heritage Area, will be awarded a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant. WNHAC is one of 11 national recipients of these funds, whose purpose is to aid rural communities in historic building preservation and economic revitalization.

NHA Program
“This grant will be so beneficial to our community because any contributing structure located in one of our 12 historic districts or individually listed in the national register will be eligible to apply for this subgrant program,” says Alex Panas, Communications and Development Manager for WNHAC.
To select candidates for subgrant awards, WNHAC will collaborate with local preservation professionals to establish an advisory committee that oversees the initiative. Applications will be accepted beginning in Fall 2022. After review and acceptance, subgrants will be awarded anywhere from $15,000 to $75,000 “to eligible property owners and/or tenants for the rehabilitation and repair of commercial, residential, and mixed-used structures,” according to Panas.
“We’ve identified over 3,000 contributing structures across Wheeling’s historic districts that could be eligible for support through this subgrant program,” says Betsy Sweeny, Director of Heritage Programming at Wheeling Heritage. “Receiving this generous grant will help us financially support historic preservation projects across our city.” Those curious about preservation projects to date throughout the heritage area can learn more here.

NHA Program

NHA Program
“This National Park Service program not only supports historic preservation, but also fosters economic development in rural communities,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge. “By funding the rehabilitation of historic properties, rural areas across the country will be improved and strengthened."Funding for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant, now in its third year, is appropriated through the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service. In total, Congress appropriated $7.5 million for FY21 funding. For more information about HPF grants and the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program, visit this page.

Via Emma Wiley, “Marvelous Maps of Wheeling”: https://weelunk.com/marvelous-maps-wheeling/. Map courtesy of Ohio County Public Library.