Michelle,
I've been looking into this topic as well for a side project. Someone put together this database but I have never used it: https://historicfunding.com/
You or him may want to find out what your state offers for historical preservation. Some states offer tax credits for renovation work if the building is eligible. The federal government has a 20% tax credit for eligible historical preservation sites. If the site can get listed on either National or State Register of Historic Places the options open up considerably. Here is the link to the 20% tax credit: https://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives/application.htm
Good Luck,
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Jeremi Bigosinski, PLA
Faculty
Norwalk Community College
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2021 04:36 PM
From: Michelle Nash
Subject: Public Funds for Private Restoration?
Hello All,
I expect the answer to be "that is not a thing" but I figured I'd do my due diligence on behalf of the community member who asked me this:
Does anyone know of any public funds or granting organization that someone could apply to for restoration of private property? We had a community member who collected something he believes is historically significant – the scoreboard from a local gymnasium that was once the largest in the United States -- and he is looking for funds to get it restored. I would imagine his best bet might be something like GoFundMe, but I told him I would ask the museum community on the off chance there are funds out there for this sort of thing.
Just to be completely clear, he intends to keep this as his private property, possibly displaying it at a business he owns/intends to open.
Thanks!
Michelle Nash
Curator of Collections
Elkhart County Historical Museum
"Museum collection storage is both a physical space and an ongoing process."- NPS