Frankfort Historic Investment Program

The Frankfort Historic Investment Program (HIP) is a local subgrant initiative administered by the City of Frankfort, Kentucky, designed to support the rehabilitation and preservation of historic properties located within National Register districts or individually listed historic sites. The program is funded through a combination of a federal Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant awarded by the National Park Service and a state-level matching grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. Together, these funding sources provide over one million dollars in subgrant funding to be distributed competitively to eligible applicants for exterior rehabilitation projects that contribute to the city’s historic and economic vitality. The primary purpose of the program is to encourage the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings by providing financial support for exterior improvements that align with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. These efforts aim to enhance community character, stimulate economic development, and address issues such as blight, underutilization, and housing shortages. Eligible projects include a wide range of exterior rehabilitation activities such as masonry repair, roof replacement, window restoration, and structural stabilization. Architectural and engineering services are also allowable but must not exceed twenty percent of the total project budget. Interior work, new construction, and landscaping are explicitly excluded from funding. The program operates as a reimbursement-based grant, meaning that awarded applicants must initially cover project costs and then seek reimbursement upon completion and approval of the work. All funded activities must comply with federal historic preservation standards as well as applicable environmental and regulatory requirements, including review under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Projects must not begin until a formal subgrant agreement is executed and a notice to proceed is issued. Additionally, recipients are required to enter into a preservation agreement or conservation easement lasting five to ten years depending on the award amount, ensuring long-term protection of the property. Eligibility for the HIP program is broad and includes private property owners, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities (excluding the City of Frankfort), public institutions, business tenants with owner approval, and for-profit developers. Properties must be located within the city limits and must either be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as contributing resources within a registered historic district. Applicants are limited to one submission and may only receive funding once under this program. A mandatory pre-application workshop attendance requirement is enforced as a condition of eligibility, ensuring applicants understand program expectations and compliance requirements. The application process is detailed and requires submission of a complete application package, including an eligibility questionnaire, a comprehensive project narrative, at least seven photographs documenting existing conditions, architectural or engineering documentation if available, contractor estimates, proof of financial capacity, and evidence of insurance. Applicants must provide at least three quotes for each budget line item and demonstrate contractor qualifications, particularly experience with historic preservation work. Incomplete applications are not considered, and no follow-up requests for missing materials are made by program staff. Applications are evaluated through a competitive scoring process conducted by a Selection Committee composed of historic preservation professionals. Criteria include the project’s impact on economic development, preservation of historic features, contribution to neighborhood revitalization, and potential to catalyze further investment. Projects are grouped into funding tiers, with anticipated awards ranging from $20,000 to $249,999. Final approval is granted by the City’s Board of Commissioners and the National Park Service, ensuring both local and federal oversight in the selection process. The application window for the program opens on June 1, 2026, and closes on August 17, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Following submission, applications undergo eligibility screening, committee review, and multiple approval stages before subgrant agreements are executed in early 2027. Project work must be completed by August 1, 2028. Throughout the project lifecycle, recipients are required to comply with reporting, inspection, and documentation requirements to receive reimbursement. Program contacts include the City’s Historic Preservation Officer and Planning and Community Development staff, who provide guidance prior to application submission.

Ensure full completeness of application as incomplete submissions are not reviewed; align all work with Secretary of the Interior Standards; obtain qualified contractor bids with historic experience; clearly demonstrate financial capacity and project readiness