The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the nation’s official list of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. Designation in the Register serves as a benchmarking tool to coordinate federal, tribal, state, and local efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect the nation’s heritage.

• Listing of a property affords it a certain prestige, raising community awareness and pride. In many cases, listing can enhance the commercial value of the property.
• Most federal, state, and nonprofit preservation grants require that a building is listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register.
• Income-producing (depreciable) properties listed in the National Register may qualify for federal tax credits that encourage rehabilitation.
• Arizona statutes afford residential non-income-producing properties listed in the National Register a significant property tax reduction.
• Arizona statutes also enable a property tax incentive program for rehabilitations of listed income-producing properties.
• Listing in the National Register can raise awareness of developmental threats to a property. While listing does not protect a building from demolition, state and federal laws require consideration of effects to eligible and listed properties.

• It does not prevent the owner of a listed property from remodeling, repairing, altering, selling, or even demolishing a building listed in the National Register.
• It does not obligate an owner to make any repairs or improvements to the property.
• It does not prevent demolition or other changes, even with the use of city or private funds.
• It does not stop changes to a project with federal or state funds. It only assures a review of projects that may have an adverse effect.

• Eligible for the National Register means that SHPO has reviewed the property and completed a Determination of Eligibility (DOE). A DOE is a certification that the property meets the National Register criteria and is worthy of preservation.
• Your first step to determining whether a property/site is eligible for listing in the NRHP is to complete the Historic Property Inventory Form with information about the history and current condition of the property. Include photographs and a site map.
• Return the completed form to: azshpo@azstateparks.gov with your request for a determination of eligibility.
• SHPO will review this form and make a determination. If the property is eligible, then a nomination can be written.
• A National Register nomination package is the formal documentation submitted to SHPO to obtain official recognition from the state and federal government that a site, building, structure, object, or district is a significant historic resource.
• Preparation of the nomination requires detailed research on a property's history, architectural significance, and integrity.
• Once submitted, the nomination is reviewed by the Arizona SHPO and the Historic Sites Review Committee, the body that advises the SHPO on matters concerning National Register eligibility.
• Once the nomination is signed by the SHPO, it is sent to the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C. for evaluation.

• A Preservation and Conservation Easement Deed is a document signed by the grant recipient and State Parks memorializing that public grant dollars have been provided for preservation of a property.
• The Easement is filed with the County Recorder’s Office, tying it to the deed of the property.
• This easement contains language that ensures that the property is maintained, and the historic character is preserved for a set duration of time, based on the amount awarded in the grant.
• Any substantial changes to the property will need to be reviewed by SHPO to ensure that they conform with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

As release of federal funds for grants is considered to be a federal undertaking, the National Park Service must ensure that use of funds complies with the National Historic Preservation Act.

SHPO assists NPS with NHPA compliance by ensuring that awarded projects’ work plans conform to the historic preservation standards outlined in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.

SHPO will review the information and either request more information, or send it to NPS for their approval.

For this grant, the definition of rural follows the eligibility requirements used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Rural Business Programs, which states that rural is areas not in a city or town with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.

This grant is awarded on a matching basis. The applicant must provide at least 20% of the total project cost and the grant award provides the remainder.

Matching funds can be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions.

Example: A project with a total budget of $125,000 will need to provide at least $25,000 in match and can receive $100,000 in grant funds.

Cash match represents the grantee’s cash outlay of money and may not include a loan where the property is identified as collateral.

In-kind match includes volunteer time and services, materials, and/or equipment donated to a project. Time, services, materials, and equipment claimed as in-kind match must be documented for reimbursement.

Applications will be accepted through the State Parks grant system, WebGrants.

All grant administration, including quarterly reporting and reimbursement requests, are also managed through this system.

You will need to register at: azparkgrants.com

The preapplication process is designed to be a checkpoint for applicants and grant staff.

The preapplication form in WebGrants asks for basic contact information, a project budget, and a project description.

The preapplication review process, which includes a preapplication meeting with grant staff, ensures that your project is eligible for this particular grant opportunity and allows us to provide key input that will help strengthen your application.

Once the preapplication and meeting are complete, the full application will be opened up for you.

The full application is much more in depth and is what is ultimately scored to determine award of funding.

For-profit businesses may have to pay taxes on grant funds.

Please reach out to a tax professional to discuss possible tax implications.