Historic Preservation Fund Grants

FY2026 Grant Round

We are accepting pre-applications for our Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Grants through Feb. 27, 2026.

In FY2026, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) anticipates awarding around $400,000 in grant funds from the federal Historic Preservation Fund. These grants will fund projects that relate directly to the identification, evaluation, or protection of historic properties. Funding is disbursed as reimbursements. 

HPF grants are 60/40 matching grants and can therefore only fund 60% of a project budget. We are required to earmark a minimum of 10% of our Historic Preservation Fund monies for exclusive use by our Certified Local Governments (CLG) partners. Last year, this required CLG amount was $123,651. Once the 10% pass-through funding has been adequately awarded, the SHPO will consider all remaining grant applications equally.

Awards are competitive. Final applications will be scored based on the proposed project's contribution to Missouri's statewide preservation goals as noted in the Missouri Comprehensive Statewide Historic Preservation Pan and the technical quality of the application.

What we fund:

  • Construction projects for the purpose of protecting, rehabilitating or restoring historic properties. Eligible properties must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have maintained their historic integrity. Construction projects must also demonstrate that they are not eligible for federal or state historic tax credits. Only one construction project will be awarded in this grant round. See below for specific conditions related to construction grants.
  • Training for members of historic preservation commissions (HPCs) or city staff members
  • Workshops, conferences and posters related to historic preservation
  • Walking tours of NR-listed sites
  • Internships
  • Preservation plans
  • Design guidelines
  • Inventorying of archival files related to archaeology or historic architecture
  • Architectural and archeological Surveys for purposes of National Register nominations
  • Nominations to the National Register of Historic Places
  • Pre-construction projects, such as maintenance and construction documents, for National Register-listed buildings. This includes:
    • Historic structure reports
    • Maintenance plans
    • Planning for repair or rehabilitation work (designs, feasibility studies, etc.)

What we do not fund:

  • Archaeological excavations beyond a Phase I survey
  • Museum exhibits
  • Acquisition of historic properties
  • Routine maintenance
  • Reconstructions or new construction (e.g., additions)
  • Relocations
  • Non-historic landscaping (e.g., sidewalks and parking lots)

Who can apply:

  • Certified Local Governments (CLGs)
  • All county governmental entities
  • All municipalities
  • Qualified nonprofit organizations with historic preservation missions

Deadline:

Pre-applications are currently being accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 27, 2026. The SHPO HPF grant manager will review the pre-applications and provide comments to the applicant before March 27, 2026. Pre-applications are required for all submissions. Final applications are due by 5 p.m. May 1, 2026.

The SHPO will host virtual grant application workshops on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for non-construction projects and Thursday, Jan. 29, for construction projects, from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact the HPF Grants Manager for links. Individual meetings can also be scheduled to discuss projects and applications on an as-needed basis. 

How to apply:

Application forms and instructions can be found below. Pre-applications, consisting of a filled-out application form and supporting documentation sufficient to evaluate the project’s scope of work, must be emailed to the SHPO grants manager before the pre-application deadline.

Final applications must be submitted through the Department of Natural Resources online Funding Opportunities Portal. This system permits entities applying for funding to submit their application, track the status of the award, and to submit invoices and reports electronically. Project sponsors will need to request access to the system so they may submit the grant application in the portal.

To request access to the system:

  • Go to the department’s Funding Opportunities Portal.
  • Complete and submit the Funding Opportunity Portal Access Request form.
  • Check “Historic Preservation” at the bottom of the form, in the section used to indicate the program(s) in which the project sponsor is interested in applying for financial assistance. Project sponsors may select other options in addition to Historic Preservation. This form may take 24 to 48 hours to process. Once the form is processed, the project sponsor will receive an email with their log on credentials.

For more information or assistance with Historic Preservation Fund grants, please contact our office via email or by calling 573-751-7958.

Application forms and instructions: 

Additional requirements for construction projects:

Construction projects must request between $100,000 and $200,000 in grant funding. 

A National Register property that has lost its historic integrity sufficient to lose its National Register eligibility is not qualified to receive a construction grant, regardless of whether or not it has been delisted from the National Register. SHPO staff will evaluate the property’s integrity during the application process. Properties in Certified Local Districts or that have received a Determination of Eligibility from the Keeper of the National Register are not eligible for HPF grant funds. 

The following activities are not eligible for HPF construction grant funding:

  • Routine maintenance
  • Major reconstruction of lost features
  • Non-historic additions to historic properties
  • Landscaping as a part of general site improvements such as parking lots, sidewalks, street repaving and street fixtures
    • However, the restoration, rehabilitation, stabilization, preservation or protection of a documented historic landscape listed in the National Register, either individually or as a contributing element to a National Register property, is an eligible grant activity.

Secretary of the Interior's Standard for the Treatment of Historic Properties

All work must conform to the relevant Secretary of the Interior’s Standard for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

NEPA and Build America, Buy America

The selected project will be required to complete a full National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. In accordance with the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), all iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials must be produced in the United States unless subject to a general waiver. In accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, all contractors and subcontractors must pay their workers no less than locally prevailing wages.

Multi-Property Projects

Applicants can apply for work on multiple properties with the same application form.

Project Sign

A project sign must be displayed in a prominent location at each project site while project work is in progress.

Temporary Preservation Covenant

The acceptance of HPF funds for construction requires the property owner to grant a temporary preservation covenant on the property to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. In the covenant, the property owner agrees to maintain the property in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and submit plans for future work to SHPO for review among other obligations. 

The covenant duration is determined by the amount of the grant award as listed below.

  • Up to $25,000 = 5-year minimum covenant
  • $25,001 to $50,000 = 10-year minimum covenant
  • $50,001 to $100,000 = 15-year minimum covenant
  • $100,001 and above = 20-year minimum covenant