Main Street News

Preserve America Grants Fund Planning Efforts

Last winter, the Montana Department of Commerce's Main Street program was awarded a Preserve America subgrant from the Montana State Historic Preservation Office to help Main Street communities with planning efforts to revitalize their historic downtowns. The towns of Sheridan, Stevensville, and Terry were chosen in May to each receive up to $7,500 for planning projects.

Preserve America grants are designed to support a variety of activities to promote the use of historic properties as educational and economic assets. Staff from the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) and the Montana Main Street program recently visited the three communities to evaluate each town and recommend best use of the funds. NTHP and Main Street staff interviewed board members and community leaders to identify the specific needs, opportunities and challenges in their towns. The next step is for NTHP staff to recommend a specific project that would best benefit each community.

The types of plans most often funded include operational plans to revitalize the historic downtown; tourism development plans; design plans for historic façade improvements; and fundraising plans, among others.

This information will give a boost to three towns working hard to preserve their charming downtowns.