Commissioners hear next steps to allocate Historic Revitalization Grants to property owners

The Paducah Board of Commissioners heard about the next steps to distribute a grant from the National Park Service to potential properties in the city.

Commissioners heard from the city's grants coordinator, Hope Reasons. She reminded them that the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant was accepted by the city last September.

The grant’s purpose is to foster economic development through the rehabilitation of local historic buildings and resources. 

The total amount of funding awarded to the city is $750,000 with the grant funding period running through September 30, 2027, to use the funds.  The grant does not require a local match.

Out of the funding award, $650,000 is allocated for awarding subgrants for preservation of local buildings. Reasons said the city is in the process of developing the application process to distribute those subgrants. 

This application process will need to be approved by the National Park Service before Paducah can open up the application period. Reasons is hopeful that the subgrant application period will begin in May. 

The initial discussion is to provide subgrants in the amount of $50,000 to $100,000.

To be eligible for a subgrant, properties must be included within a National Register District or individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Properties that are not yet listed in the National Register may still be awarded subgrants, as long as they are listed by the end of the grant period in September 2027.

There are three eligible program areas for Paducah: 1) the Downtown Historic Commercial District; 2) the  Market House Historical District; and 3) Southside. 

Properties that may be eligible for the grant include commercial, multi-unit residential, mixed use, educational, churches, and nonprofits. Only existing structures are eligible. Single-family residential properties are not eligible.

Applicants will be required to submit a minimum 10 percent cash match based on the total cost of the proposed project. Applicants that commit to a higher match amount will score higher during the evaluation process. 

Other criteria that will be reviewed in the application process include the project’s economic and visual impacts. Projects that restore a building’s original historic character also will be prioritized.