MDAH to Oversee New Grant Program

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) will administer a new federal grant program that will distribute $26 million for historic properties along the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina. The grants are available for publicly or privately owned structures listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Properties in the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, which includes George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone counties, will be given preference when applying for grants, as specified by the federal government.

Any private property owner, unit of state or local government or non-profit organization (excepting active religious organizations) may submit a grant application to protect, stabilize, preserve, restore or rehabilitate a property that is listed or eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was damaged by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. Major reconstruction projects, such as recreating a building that has been completely destroyed, are not eligible. Eligible properties may also apply for reimbursement of hurricane-related repairs that have already been completed according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historical Properties.

For more information, contact Rhonda Rhodes at the Hancock County Community Development Foundation at (228) 467-9048, or Preservation House in Biloxi at (228) 435-1180.