Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), which includes the Oregon Main Street Network and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), was awarded $665,000 in federal grant funding to implement a grant program for the preservation of historic theaters. The grant was one of nine awarded nationally through the National Park Service Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program.
Applications for the Oregon Historic Theater Grant will open later this winter with a deadline in spring 2020. This is a matching grant program for amounts between $15,000 – $100,000. Key requirements include:

  • The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or is eligible and becomes listed during the grant period.
  • The project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.
  • The theater is in a community with a population of 30,000 or less.

Applicants can be private property owners, local governments, state agencies, and nonprofits. The theater owner does not have to be the applicant; however, the owner must provide a letter in support of the work.
Restore Oregon, our nonprofit partner, is happy to help with advance grant preparation.

  • Complete and submit the Historic Resource Record – If the property is not listed in the National Register, complete and submit this as soon as possible. This document may take some time to complete as it requires current photos, historic photos if available, and historical information.
  • Project Planning – Establish priorities for work to be completed and why, study the preservation standards, develop plans and drawings, begin seeking estimates for work.
  • Financial Planning – Begin seeking sources of matching funds, discuss grant income and tax implications with your financial planner.

For assistance from Restore Oregon contact Katelyn Weber at katelyn@restoreoregon.org , 503-946-6379. For questions about the grant contact Kuri Gill, kuri.gill@oregon.gov , 503-986-0685 or visit www.oregonheritage.org .