[OMS_MANAGERS] Oregon Main Street Network: News You Can Use

[STUART Sheri * OPRD]

In this Email:

1.     Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards

2.     Smart Growth America's New Downtown Revitalization Guide

3.     Diamonds in the Rough Grant

4.     National Trust Preservation Fund Grant

5.     Article: Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans Are Important for Downtowns
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1.     Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards: Applications are now available to nominate individuals, organizations and projects that have made outstanding contributions to preserving Oregon's heritage for an Oregon Heritage Excellence Award. Nominations are encouraged for exceptional and commendable work with special consideration given to the development of new ideas, approaches and innovations in heritage-related activities. The awards are intended to draw public attention to important heritage efforts in Oregon and to raise the quality of heritage-oriented activities.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 18. Award information, the nomination application and a list of previous winners is available at the awards website<http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OHC/Pages/award_info.aspx>.  Additional information is available from Mike Gushard at (503) 986-0671 or mike.gushard at oregon.gov<mailto:mike.gushard at oregon.gov>

The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards will be presented May 5 by Oregon Heritage at the 2016 Oregon Heritage Conference in Salem.


2.     Smart Growth America's New Downtown Revitalization Guide: Yesterday, Smart Growth America released (Re)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization<http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Adcb0DGFqh%2FbHl1EZ%2F47oM9shSCtV3Vb>, a new resource for local leaders who want to reinvigorate and strengthen neighborhood centers of economy, culture, and history through a smart growth approach to development.

As part of yesterday's kickoff, Smart Growth America hosted an online conversation all about downtown revitalization. Participants heard an overview of the new guidebook, discussed revitalization efforts in three different communities, and asked questions of the expert panelists.

If you weren't able to join the webinar (or if you did join and want a recap), a recorded version of the webinar is now available<http://action.smartgrowthamerica.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=cle%2BfBYaAInFkQAajQdZiM9shSCtV3Vb>.


3.     Diamond's in the Rough Grant: Just a "heads up" that the Diamonds in the Rough grant application will open in January and be due in Spring - more info will be out soon. It is a good idea to start early thinking about projects that might qualify in your downtown and to make sure property owners are aware of this program. Diamonds in the Rough grants are to restore or reconstruct the facades of buildings that have been heavily altered over the years. The purpose is to return them to their historic appearance and potentially qualify them for historic register designation (local or national). These grants are part of the SHPO's Preserving Oregon Grant Program for the 2013-15 biennium. Grants may be awarded up to $20,000.



4.     National Trust Preservation Funds: Deadline Feb 2, 2016

http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/preservation-funds-guidelines-eligibility.html

Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. The National Trust is particularly interested in projects that relate to the preservation priorities listed below. If your project relates to any of these issues, please explain the connection in your narrative.

*       Building sustainable communities: Does your project demonstrate that historic preservation supports economic, environmental and cultural sustainability in communities?

*       Reimagining historic sites: Does your project use innovative, replicable strategies that create new models for historic site interpretation and stewardship?

*       Promoting diversity and place: Does your project broaden the cultural diversity of historic preservation?

*       Protecting historic places on public lands

A small grant at the right time can go a long way and is often the catalyst that inspires a community to take action on a preservation project. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive.

The review process is generally completed within eight weeks of the application deadline, and applicants are notified via email once the review process is complete.

Application deadlines are February 1, June 1, and October 1.  If the first of the month falls on a weekend, applications will be due on the following Monday.



5.     Click on this link to see an interesting article from the National Main Street Center: Why Business Retention and Expansion Plans are Important for Downtowns<http://sable.madmimi.com/click?id=21259.2168.21e58c5a43147313606bba41bfa2f0c7&l=22&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.preservationnation.org%2Fmain-street%2Fmain-street-news%2Fstory-of-the-week%2F2015%2Fwhy-business-retention-and.html%3Freferrer%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fv160xKx5sX%23.VnA840orK00> It is a good article to share with your Economic Vitality committees!


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