Vermont Barn Preservation Grant Program

The Vermont Barn Preservation Grant Program is administered by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and supports the preservation of historic agricultural resources in Vermont. Established in 1991, the program is funded by State of Vermont taxpayers at the direction of the General Assembly through the annual Capital Appropriations and State Bonding Act, with additional support from federal funds from the National Park Service. For the 2027 grant cycle, $300,000 is available for one-to-one matching grants. The program is competitive, with the manual indicating that roughly 30 percent of submitted applications receive funding. The Vermont Advisory Council for Historic Preservation makes final funding decisions. Grants support capital building projects that preserve historic agricultural buildings. The largest available grant is $20,000, although applicants may request smaller amounts, and a grant request cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. Applicants must provide a cash match of at least one-to-one. Eligible matching resources may include cash on hand, endowment funds, bank loans, federal funds, private foundation grants, and donor pledges. Other State grants and in-kind donations are not eligible match. This is a reimbursement program, so recipients must first pay the full project cost and then request reimbursement after the approved work is complete and paid for. Costs incurred before the project start date are not reimbursable and cannot be used as match. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of the State of Vermont, described as municipalities, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals. The property must be historic, meaning it is listed or determined eligible for listing in the State Register of Historic Places, and the project building must be a historic agricultural building. Buildings that have not been evaluated may require a Vermont Architectural Resource Inventory survey form. Applicants that received a 2026 Barn Preservation Grant are not eligible for a 2027 grant, and applicants are also ineligible while work funded by a previous grant remains incomplete. Work that is already complete or in progress is not eligible. New construction, additions, electrical, plumbing, heating, accessibility, and code improvement projects are ineligible. Planning is generally ineligible except for a limited amount necessary as part of a larger eligible project. In-town carriage barns constructed or used primarily as garages are not eligible agricultural buildings. All grant-funded work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Applicants must use the current application form and complete Sections 1 through 10. The application requests applicant and project-contact information, property and building information, grant experience, construction and alteration dates, historic status, property history and agricultural use, building condition and needed repairs, public benefit and long-term use, architectural or historical significance, long-term planning, project description, an itemized project budget, the grant request, matching resources, additional funding sources, and information on how a partial award could be used. Required attachments include at least one recent detailed written contractor estimate from a contractor experienced with historic buildings, labeled photographs documenting the property and proposed work, proof of tax-exempt status for nonprofit applicants, and a Vermont Architectural Resource Inventory survey form when required. Certain preservation plans, reports, evaluations, and limited letters of support are optional. Applications are evaluated first against mandatory eligibility criteria covering historic-register status, agricultural-building status, the one-to-one match, and compliance with preservation standards. Eligible projects are then ranked for preservation of historic features, active agricultural use or repair for agricultural purposes, public benefit and long-term use, architectural or historical significance, long-term planning and budget quality, and the clarity and completeness of the application. These competitive criteria provide up to 25 points. Geographic distribution may be used as a tiebreaker. The program emphasizes repair rather than replacement, preservation of character-defining historic materials and features, logical prioritization of building needs, appropriate preservation methods, strong cost documentation, public benefit, and credible plans for long-term care. Completed applications are due December 7, 2026. Applicants should submit the application and attachments through the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation DropOff portal at https://gs.anr.vermont.gov/dropoff, using ACCD.BarnGrants@vermont.gov as the receiving address. The application must be submitted by midnight on December 7, 2026. Additional materials may be uploaded through the same portal or submitted by mail, and mailed required attachments must be postmarked by December 7, 2026. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. Digital submissions require the applicant to complete the certification in the application; paper submissions require a signature. Program questions may be directed to Caitlin Corkins at Caitlin.Corkins@vermont.gov or 802-828-3047. The Vermont Advisory Council for Historic Preservation is expected to make funding decisions in February 2027, after which all applicants will receive written notification. The Council will also identify three to four alternates in case additional funding becomes available. Recipients are expected to complete their projects and submit final reimbursement requests during 2027, although the final deadline for completing a 2027 grant project and requesting reimbursement is December 31, 2028. Recipients have continuing preservation obligations for five years from execution of the grant agreement, including responsibility for maintenance and repair and consultation with the State before specified alterations, additions, or major rehabilitation projects. If ownership is transferred during that period, the continuing obligations must be made a condition of the transfer.

Confirm State Register eligibility before applying; prioritize repair and retention of historic features; use preservation-appropriate methods and materials; provide a recent detailed contractor estimate from someone experienced with historic buildings; show public benefit, long-term use, and a credible maintenance and funding plan; label photographs clearly and keep the application concise, complete, and well organized.