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Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program
The Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program is a competitive grant program intended to support long-term investment in the irreplaceable heritage assets of Michigan’s small, rural communities. The program is supported through a one-time grant from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program, established under the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
Program funding is specifically for building rehabilitation (i.e., “bricks and mortar”) projects and associated pre-development (e.g., plans and specifications) work in small, rural communities throughout Michigan (see below for specific definitions). Local units of government, non-profits, and public entities are eligible to apply for funding. Eligible entities may also sponsor a project on behalf of a private property or business owner, so long as the project meets grant program eligibility.
The program places a particular focus on economic impact and projects that positively contribute to the economic, social, and/or cultural life of a community and promote reinvestment in historic properties. Economic impact can mean different things depending on the property and the community. Examples include but are not limited to:
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Applications will be accepted via the submission portal located on this page until 5:00 p.m. June 8, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
An optional informational webinar was held on April 29, 2026. The recording is avaiable on this page.
All questions regarding the program should be directed to Alan Higgins, Grants Manager, at [email protected].
The Rural Heritage Partnership Program is focused directly on providing funding to Michigan's small, rural communities. For the purposes of this program:
A property must be located in a community meeting both the small and rural definitions to be eligible for the program.
The following entities may apply for grant funding:
Private property and business owners are not directly eligible for this program. However, an eligible entity may sponsor a project on behalf of a private property or business owner, so long as the project meets grant program eligibility. For example, an economic development organization could partner with a business owner for a facade rehabilitation project. When an entity sponsors an application on behalf of an owner, the sponsoring entity is the applicant. If a grant is awarded, the sponsoring entity is the grant recipient and will be responsible for day-to-day coordination and administration of the grant.
To qualify for a grant, a property must:
Interested parties are strongly encouraged to confirm the status of their property prior to completing an application by contacting Alan Higgins at [email protected].
Grant funds are for rehabilitation of historic properties (i.e., “bricks and mortar” projects). Rehabilitation is defined as the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features that convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. Projects may include interior work, but all projects must include an exterior component.
Examples of qualified projects include but are not limited to:
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SHPO held an informational webinar on April 29, 2026. Below, you can watch a recording of the webinar below for an overview of the Rural Heritage Partnership Grant program, including eligibility requirements, program basics, and the application and project selection process. In addition, answers to questions asked during the webinar are available here.
Grant Manual and Application Materials
Use the button to the right to access the online submission portal.
Please make sure you include all required information:
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 5:00 P.M. JUNE 8, 2026
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