CAM Convening Recap
The Benefits of Historic Preservation in Maine
Adding a district or building to the Historic Register can yield significant economic and social benefits to Maine communities, cultural organizations, affordable housing stock, and creative districts. In this CAM Convening, we learned how historic designation happens, how it supports revitalization efforts, and the latest news about legislation currently being discussed in Augusta that would significantly expand and strengthen the state historic tax credit.
Guest Artist:
Samuel James, musician and storyteller
Guests:
Anne Ball of the Maine Downtown Center
Sarah Hansen of Greater Portland Landmarks
Tara Kelly of Maine Preservation
Links & Resources
Samuel James: Music/Storytelling & 99 Years Podcast
Maine Preservation’s Monday Meet-ups are office hours on the first Monday of every month to provide guidance about your historic rehabilitation efforts
Jane’s Walk Maine: a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement. The annual Jane’s Walk festival takes place the first weekend in May, in more than 200 cities and towns around the globe.
Historic Preservation Funding Sources
1772 Foundation, Maine Preservation: 1:1 matching grants of up to $10,000 for shovel-ready historic preservation projects.
Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Grant Program: The invests in the preservation, restoration, and retrofitting of historic buildings in Maine. Grants from this fund focus on capital investments in historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities.
Betterment Fund Downtowns: Projects for comprehensive community planning and regional or state-wide organizations with similar missions, reduction of sprawl and improved regional land use planning
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: Each year the State of Maine receives a formula allocation of funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to be distributed to eligible Maine communities under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).
Maine Historic Preservation Commission The Commission offers several grants and assists with administering several others on behalf of the National Park Service.
National Park Service Grants for Cultural Resources, Consultation, and Repatriation.
National Trust for Historic Preservation Grants from the National Trust Preservation Funds encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects.