State Historical Society of Iowa

Historical Resource Development Program: Historic Preservation

Project Types

Examples of projects in the Historic Preservation category are:

  • Acquire, develop or preserve real property listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Purchase equipment to rehabilitate a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Survey historic and prehistoric sites
  • Nominate properties to the National Register of Historic Places
  • Interpret historic properties and sites
  • Educate the public; train staff; or hire consultants who are experts on historic preservation

National Register of Historic Places

Please note that if you are proposing work on real property, and are submitting the application in the historic preservation category, then the property must already be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Applicants must include documentation of the property’s National Register status with the application. This documentation should be attached to the application.

Eligible Property Types and Activities

  • A National Historic Landmark: The National Park Service defines this as a “historic property evaluated and found to have significance at the national level and designated as such by the Secretary of the Interior.” There are only 27 such properties in Iowa. 
  • Individually Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: a historic property that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on its own, not as part of a historic district. It may also be contributing to a listed historic district, but is also listed on its own.
  • A Contributing Resource to a Property or District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: The National Park Service defines this as a “building, site, structure, or object adding to the historic significance of a property.” These contributing resources must be part of the National Register nomination for the property or district and must still be considered contributing to the property or district. A “district” is defined by the National Park Service as a “significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.”
  • A Property or District That Has an Opinion of Eligibility for Listing on the National Register of Historic Places: Properties or districts that meet the eligibility criteria, but have not yet been listed are eligible for HRDP funds to nominate the property or district to the National Register or for emergency grants, through our emergency application process. Emergency applications are accepted until each year’s funds are expended. The emergency allocation is replenished each July 1st.
  • A Historic or Prehistoric Site Survey: The National Park Service defines survey as the “process of identifying and gathering data on a community's historic resources.” It is strongly encouraged that you discuss this type of project with the State Historic Preservation Office prior to application.
  • Educating the Public About Historic Preservation: HRDP can fund workshops or conferences to educate the public about historic preservation. Funds can also be used to train staff or hire consultants who are experts in historic preservation.

Guidance for Rehabilitation Plans, Survey Projects, and Preservation Planning

When preparing your scope of work for the above project, please keep the following in mind:

  • Unless otherwise specified, products will be provided digitally and sent via email.
  • For Rehabilitation Plans:
    • All work undertaken as part of this project will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guideline for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and specifically the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation.
  • For Survey Projects:
    • All work undertaken as part of this project will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guideline for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and specifically the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Identification and Evaluation.
  • For Preservation Planning:
    • All work undertaken as part of this project will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guideline for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and specifically the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Preservation Planning.

Guidance for National Register Nomination Projects

When preparing your scope of work for the above project, please keep the following in mind:

Certified Local Governments (CLG)

Certified Local Governments have established historic preservation programs that have been certified by the National Park Service. Grant funds shall not be awarded to a city or county government for a project in the historic preservation category unless the city or county government has been approved as a Certified Local Government (CLG) by the National Park Service and determined to be a CLG in good standing by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

CLG cities, counties, and land use districts must be current in their submission of Iowa CLG Annual Report forms to be considered in good standing. Applications from CLGs require a letter from Allison Archambo stating that the city or county government is a CLG in good standing. This letter should be attached to the application.

Professional Standards

All projects must comply with certain nationally-accepted professional standards. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of, intention to, and ability to adhere to the professional standards that pertain to the grant category to which they are applying.

The applicable standards are as follows:

Projects in this category must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, as appropriate. There are many components to these standards. For example, if the application requests funding to rehabilitate a building, then the appropriate set of standards is the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The National Park Service provides a number of Preservation Briefs that address many preservation concerns and provide guidance for various types of projects. The information provided could help you avoid a mistake that could harm your historic property and also possibly assist you in composing a more competitive grant application.

Professional Involvement

Every project in the historic preservation category must involve a trained professional in a discipline appropriate to the project scope.

  • If an application requests funding to rehabilitate a building, the project must include the services of a preservation architect or a building contractor with work experience that demonstrates knowledge of, and adherence to, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Credentials demonstrating appropriate training and experience must be included as part of the application.
  • If the application requests funding in other aspects of historic preservation (such as preparation of a National Register nomination; investigation of an archaeological site; or presentation of a workshop on historic preservation) then the project must include the services of an appropriate preservation professional. Credentials demonstrating appropriate training and experience must be included as part of the application.

Provide the name and contact information for the professional involved in the project. Detail the credentials of the individual. Describe the education and experience that qualifies this individual for the type of work proposed in the project.

This part of the application also requires two attachments:

  • Letter of Commitment from Trained Professional: Attach a letter of commitment from the professional who will be involved in your project, should your project be awarded REAP/HRDP grant funds.
  • Professional Credentials: Attach credentials demonstrating experience appropriate to the project scope of work and experience with and knowledge of historic preservation standards.

Staff Resources

As you prepare your application, you may have technical questions about specific types of resources and professional standards. The following staff resources are available:

Questions about the grant application process and projects in the historic preservation category:
Kristen Vander Molen, Grants Manager – 515-281-4228