What is the Looking Up Downtown Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program?

A grant program run by Rethos’ Minnesota Main Street Program for owners of buildings located in Main Street Districts to rehabilitate upper floor interiors.

This is a competitive grant program with funding from the National Park Service (NPS) and Minnesota Main Streets by Rethos, the coordinating partner in Minnesota for the National Main Street Center. The “Looking Up” program will fund historic rehabilitation activities for currently vacant or underutilized upper floors that will assist in putting them to productive use. Business or building owners within a Minnesota Main Street historic district may apply for up to $50,000 in funding and are only required to provide a 10% match. This competitive grant will fund two rounds of historic rehabilitation and revitalization projects in historic buildings located in official Main Street districts across the state.

The Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program is part of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which is the primary Federal funding source for preservation grant programs as well as for the activities of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices. Funding levels for the HPF and programs like Paul Bruhn are established annually and are appropriated from a dedicated fund of offshore oil and gas leases (i.e., the HPF is not funded by taxpayers). Minnesota Main Street by Rethos received $600,000 to institute the Looking Up program in Minnesota. This will be disbursed in a minimum of 12 grants of up to $50,000 to upper floor rehabilitation projects in Main Street districts around the state.

The application must be completed via this form, but you can download a PDF of this application for reference via the link on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

Fully read through the application requirements, eligibility, deadlines, appendices, and external links to learn more about the full scope of the grant. While we want to make this program as easy to access as possible, there are several restrictions and requirements that must be followed.

1. To be eligible, your property must meet all of the following Minnesota Main Street requirements:

1. It must be a commercial property. For this grant's purposes, a commercial property is defined as a property not a single- or multi-family home. Properties such as apartment buildings or buildings that have commercial spaces on the ground floor and residential or office spaces on the upper floor(s) are eligible.

2. Funds must be applied to cover costs directly related to upper floor rehabilitation (2nd, 3rd, or 4th, not a ground level or basement).

3. Rehabilitation costs must be for interior work only, not exterior or façade work.

2. To be eligible, your property must also meet all of the following National Park Service requirements:

1. Eligible properties are buildings located in communities with a population of less than 50,000 as determined in 2020 by the US Bureau of the Census. Eligible projects must be either: located within the recorded boundaries of National Register-listed historic districts, individually listed, or have been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places If properties are eligible for listing but not already listed in the National Register of Historic Places. If an eligible building receives funding, a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places must be completed and submitted to the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (MN SHPO) as part of the project. Any costs associated with preparing National Register documentation are not eligible expenses under this grant program; Rethos and Minnesota Main Street will not cover costs associated with listing properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

2. All work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (SOI Standards). Following selection, subgrant agreements will be executed and plans submitted for project review compliance by the National Park Service in consultation with the MN SHPO before starting the project.

3. All properties receiving funding must enter into a preservation easement agreement with Rethos. The term of the agreement is a minimum of 5 years as determined by the amount of the subgrant. A sample easement (Appendix C) may be found on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

3. The priority of Looking Up is to return currently vacant or underutilized upper floors to productive use. As part of the process, you will be required to outline the planned intended use for the building after the revitalization grant project has been completed.

4. All applications will be scored by a panel of Main Street and Historic Redevelopment professionals.

5. Applications will only be accepted through this application form on the www.rethos.org website.

6. All documentation noted on the form is required for the application. A list of links, informational materials, and sample documents referenced in this online application, including a downloadable PDF of this application, are available on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

7. Additional information on eligibility can be found in the “Who Can Apply” section.

There has been excellent attention paid to ground floor store front spaces, but Minnesota’s Main Street communities throughout the state have experienced underutilized upper floors leading to disrepair and the need for significant updates. There is an incredible need in greater Minnesota for support for folks who want to update their historic buildings but lack the capital to fully fund the work. Making upper floors not only habitable, but accessible and safe, is crucial to the continuation of successful downtown districts. Upper floors in downtowns and commercial districts can be activated to solve housing shortages, create new commercial or office spaces, and provide crucial updates to buildings that have been sitting vacant, sometimes for decades.

Successful applicants for this grant will have projects that are ready to undergo rehabilitation within the given time frames, will create habitable, accessible, and occupied spaces on upper floors of buildings in Main Street commercial districts, and will improve the overall efficiency of the building by stabilizing deteriorating upper floor conditions.

Deadline

All grant applications for must be received no later than 11:45 pm, JULY 15, 2024, for the first grant cycle. The deadline for the second grant cycle will be announced in the fall of 2024.

Grant Amounts

Grant awards will be made up to $50,000. Amounts less than $50,000 may be requested but must be above $20,000.

Grant Compliance

Grant recipients are only eligible to receive funding for construction on components of the project that have not yet begun. All grant-funded work must be completed within the term of the grant agreement. Reimbursement is not retroactive for work already underway or already completed at the time the grant agreement is signed.

Work funded by the grant may not begin until the grant agreement with the awardee and Rethos is signed by all parties. Following signing, all work must be approved by NPS. The review process may take up to 90 days after plans are submitted. Work may begin only upon approval by NPS.

Failure to commence work within 60 days of receiving approval of plans from NPS will void the grant.

Grant-funded project work must be completed by the deadline outlined in the grant timeline in Appendix B.

As a recipient of these funds, property owners agree to maintain their properties according to the SOI Standards for a period of 5 years after the grant supported work is complete. That means that the interior and exterior character-defining features that make the property eligible for listing in the National Register must not be altered, removed, or destroyed during that time period. The easement agreement reinforces this requirement. and to sign on to an easement (See Easements, Covenants, and Preservation Agreements at www.nps.gov and sample document on the application page).

As part of the public use/benefit agreements within the grants, all subgrantees will approve of Rethos utilizing their space for ‘open houses.’ These open houses will be open to the public and will be aimed at both encouraging similar developments in other downtown buildings, as well as more broadly promoting the benefits and opportunities preservation can bring to a whole community. All events will be scheduled with the property owner, local Main Street Director, and Rethos staff.

Matching Funds and Reimbursement

This grant requires a monetary match equal to 10% of project funds awarded by Rethos. For example, if the project funding request is for $50,000, there must be a $5,000 match, meaning that the total project costs are at least $55,000. If the project funding request is for $25,000, there must be a $2,500 match, meaning the total project costs are at least $27,500.

This is a reimbursement grant. The grant award will be paid only upon completion of the work described in the approved scope of work that will be outlined in the grant agreement to be executed upon selection of the grant recipients. All grant-funded work must comply with:

• The scope of work outlined in the grant agreement
• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
• All provisions of the grant agreement
• Any Conditions of Approval

Standards

Applicants and construction professionals are strongly encouraged to become familiar with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. They are available at the National Park Service’s website here and on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

Additional guidance may be found in the National Park Service Preservation Briefs which you can find here and on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

Tax Liabilities

Grant recipients are responsible for any income tax liability incurred as a result of receiving grant funds. Recipients will receive an IRS Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income for use in preparing tax returns for the year in which the grant payment is issued.

Project Review Prior to Construction

Grant recipients must meet with Rethos staff or its designated representatives at the building site to discuss the Scope of Work and any design needs prior to beginning of construction.

Regulations

All grants must follow Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations in Title 2, Part 200 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR 200). In addition, grants must follow the regulations in the Historic Preservation Fund Manual. Both of these regulations may also be accessed through the links found on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

Who Can Apply

Property owners or tenants of commercially zoned properties located within designated Minnesota Main Street districts in communities with less than 50,000 population according to the U. S. Bureau of the Census.

· Tenants must upload the property owner’s signature of consent to the proposed scope of work.

· If the applicant is a corporation or non-profit organization, the grant application must include an uploaded resolution from the board of directors authorizing the signer of the application on behalf of the corporation or non-profit.

· If the applicant is a co-owner of the property, the grant application must include an uploaded statement signed by all co-owners authorizing the applicant to act on behalf of all co-owners.

· Buildings must be individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places or identified as a contributing element to a district listed in the National Register of Historic Places or determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or identified as contributing to a National Register district listing (as determined by Minnesota State Historic Preservation Officer).

What is Funded?

Eligible uses of these funds include the following interior work:

• Improvements exposing, restoring, or replicating original interior architectural features
• Installing or repairing a fire suppression system
• Accessibility updates such as installing stair railings, elevators, grab bars, or Universal Design features
• Electrical or plumbing updates
• Energy efficiency updates
• Paint, millwork, or flooring rehabilitation or updates
• Repair of restorable wood windows and doors

Proposed work to the interior of the building does not require approval by the local historic district commission, however, all work must comply with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and will be reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure compliance.

What is NOT Funded?

Ineligible uses of these funds would be:

• Exterior repairs or façade updates
• New building construction
• Re-creation of historic properties that no longer exist
• Long-term maintenance beyond the grant period
• Properties that are zoned residential and properties housing home-based businesses within the Main Street district
• RHINO paint and other coatings that permanently bond with historic materials
• Replacement of restorable wood doors and windows
• Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
• Electronic security systems
• Work that took place prior to the grant cycle

How to Apply

1. Contact your local Main Street director to determine eligibility of your project, including if your building is in the Main Street district, National Register of Historic Places status, and all other qualifications.

2. Compile all supplemental materials required for submission.

3. Submit a complete application and upload all supplemental materials through this platform by the application deadline.

4. Wait for notice on approval. All applications will be reviewed within 30 days of the application deadline.

Selection Process and Criteria

Incomplete applications and applications for buildings that do not meet the qualifications will not be accepted for review by the panel. Accepted applications will be scored by panelists using a scoring system seen in Appendix D.

Panelists are professionals selected from the fields of architecture, construction, historic preservation, economic development, and other associated areas of community revitalization specialization from around the country. To maintain impartiality, panelists will not be employed by a Minnesota Main Street community, will not reside in a designated Minnesota Main Street community, and cannot be directly or indirectly involved with Minnesota Main Street communities.

Take into consideration that members of the review panel will not be familiar with the buildings or settings associated with the applications. It is vital that your application communicates visually through photographs and in writing through the narrative so that panelists can know as much as possible about the importance of the project to your community.

Panelists will review each application based on the form completed here and will each individually assign a score to every application using the scoresheet in Appendix D. The process will result in a total score for each application.

Minnesota Main Street will rank all grant applications based on the weighted scores. In each grant round, the six highest-ranked applications will be selected for funding based on one grant per community. All applications will be reviewed by the Minnesota State Historic Preservation office for adherence to all requirements for rehabilitation work. In the event of scoring ties, the Rethos Board of Directors will review and make the final decision(s).

This will be a highly competitive grant application. Regrettably, not every applicant can be assured of receiving a grant. Award considerations include, but are not limited to:

• The level of rehabilitation of the intended project.
• The impact of the project on the original building’s character-defining features.
• The economic impact the completed project will bring to the commercial district.

Reimbursement

By submitting a grant application, the applicant is indicating an intention to do the work as proposed and has the financial resources in place to begin and complete the work as stated.

Before purchasing material, grant recipients MUST first receive approval from Minnesota Main Street to move forward with the proposed scope of work. Recipients will not be reimbursed for any materials that do not comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards if they are purchased prior to receiving approval of the Scope of Work.

Reimbursement will be made to the grant recipient in one lump sum payment upon completion of the project and after on-site inspection by Minnesota Main Street or its representatives. On-site inspection will determine whether or not all work has been done in compliance with the terms of the grant agreement.

The following items shall be submitted to Minnesota Main Street to receive grant funds:

• Reimbursement Request Form (included in grant documents after selection) detailing the final project costs and signed by the grant recipient.
• Digital photographs documenting the completed project.
• Spreadsheet of expenses along with dated copies of contractor invoices or receipts for purchase of materials along with scanned images of payment checks. The documented expenses should be equal to or greater than the total of the grant award plus the required cash match.
• Reimbursement will be paid to the entity that enters into the grant agreement.

These sample documents are meant to provide information and guidance for applicants. Appendices A, C, and D are located under the "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links" heading on the application page to which this application is located. Appendix B is found following the online application. For additional questions, contact your local Main Street program director.

Appendix A: A downloadable application for reference. All application and attached materials must be completed online. Paper applications will not be accepted. The questions and information are provided in Appendix A are for informational purposes only to prepare answers and documentation before submitting this online form.

Appendix B: Grant Cycle Timelines. These timelines currently cover Cycle 1, or the first round of funding. Cycle 2, or the second round of funding will be announced in the fall of 2024.

Appendix C: Sample Preservation and Conservation Easement.

Appendix D: Sample Grant Score Sheet.

Looking Up: Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program Rehabilitation of Upper Story commercial interiors in Minnesota Main Street districts

Applicant Information

Building Information

Budget

This section should include the information regarding the work to be performed with grant funds. Use the Budget Itemization Worksheet also found on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links" to illustrate all work to be performed with grant funds, including the dollar amount associated with each and a total. Upload copies of signed and dated contractor estimates where indicated. Manufacturer tear sheets are also helpful and can be obtained from a product sales representative. This section should be a detailed breakdown of project tasks, materials, and itemized costs (not one total cost only) for which grant funding is requested.

Main Street District Information

Application: Appendix A

A downloadable PDF of this application is found on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

This Appendix is for information purposes only. Formal application and attached materials must be completed online. Paper applications will not be accepted. The questions and information are provided in Appendix A are for informational purposes only, to prepare answers and documentation before submitting an online form.

Grant Cycle Timelines: Appendix B

Grant Cycle 1:

Up to July 10, 2024, including an informational webinar on May 16, 2024: Grant information reviewed with local Main Street directors.

July 15, 2024: Applications must be submitted to Minnesota Main Street through the online platform. The platform will stop accepting applications at 11:45 pm.

July 15 - August 31, 2024: Applications will be reviewed, ranked, selected for funding, grant documents will be sent to recipients. Note: A fully signed copy of the grant agreement must be received before plans can be forwarded for review by NPS. Applicants must then commence implementation of the scope of work within 60 days of receiving approved plans from NPS.

TBD Deadline for completing all items listed in the grant scope of work.

TBD Deadline for submitting reimbursement requests.

Grant Cycle 2 Information will be announced in the Fall of 2024.

Sample Easement: Appendix C

View Sample Preservation Easement here or on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".

Sample Grant Application Scoresheet: Appendix D

View Sample Grant Application Scoresheet here or on the application page under "Application Documents, Reference Materials, and Links".