Preservation Planning grants support the development of preservation plans such as Historic Structure Reports or Historic Building Assessments which are intended to serve as road maps for the rehabilitation, restoration, or preservation of qualified historic buildings, structures, or sites (i.e. resources).

RESOURCE ELIGIBILITY

To qualify, a resource (building, structure, land, or site) must be publicly owned or owned by a publicly supported nonprofit exempt from federal taxes. It must be listed on, or eligible for, the State or National Register of Historic Places. Confirm resource eligibility with the NH Division of Historical Resources at 603-271-3483.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Qualified plans are prepared by historic preservation professionals and address the history and use of the resource over time as well as identifying, assessing, and prioritizing the resource’s preservation needs.

Project Completion Requirements

Once funded, Preservation Planning grants are completed in three phases:

1. The plan outline and project team are submitted to LCHIP for review and approval. Once approved, 50% of the grant award is released and plan development may begin.
2. A draft of the plan is submitted to LCHIP for review and comment.
3. The final plan is submitted to LCHIP, and the 2nd installment is released.

Quick Links

EMMIT+ – EMMIT+ is a GIS-based online inventory of historic and archaeological records on file at the NH Division of Historical Resources, NH’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). EMMIT+ is an interactive portal for agencies, municipalities and others who use NH’s SHPO programs. EMMIT+ allows users to submit, track and manage projects for Federal Section 106 Review, State Review and the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Independent Sector – This site provides an estimated dollar per hour value, updated annually, for volunteer time which may be included as appropriate in grant application budgets.

National Register of Historic Places Database – The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the United States’ historic buildings, structures, sites, districts, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. It is maintained by the National Park Service and helps recognize and protect places that contribute to the nation’s heritage.

Secretary of Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties – The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, Guidelines, and Preservation Briefs work together to provide a comprehensive framework for the responsible treatment of historic properties.

The Standards establish the core principles for preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction, while the Guidelines offer more detailed, flexible advice on how to apply those principles to specific building types, materials, and project conditions. Preservation Briefs complement both by addressing common preservation challenges and best practices in accessible, topic-specific documents.

LCHIP grant recipients should use all three resources in tandem; the Standards to understand the overarching expectations for historic integrity, the Guidelines to shape the overall project approach, and the Briefs to inform specific technical decisions—ensuring that funded work is consistent with national preservation practices and meets LCHIP’s eligibility requirements.