West Virginia Resources for Historic Properties

In West Virginia historic property owners and advocates can seek assistance from federal and state programs for predevelopment, planning, and rehabilitation activities. These programs are administered through the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia.

These programs are largely applicable to properties that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either as an individual resource or as a contributing resource to a historic district.

Please see each program’s website (listed below) for specific property or project eligibility, requirements, and application processes.

West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Department of Tourism

Grant Programs

• State Development Grant Program: Rehabilitation of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places (state funded).
• Survey & Planning Grant Program: Funds architectural/archaeology surveys, National Register nominations, predevelopment plans, and heritage education programs (federally funded from National Park Service).
• Priority funding for Certified Local Governments (CLG) in WV
• Endangered Historic Properties Fund Program: Provides emergency grant funding for the preservation of threatened and endangered historic and prehistoric properties and sites (implemented as federal funding allows).

Historic Tax Credits

• Commercial/Income Producing Properties: Federal and state historic tax credit program for qualified rehabilitation of income producing historic properties. Must adhere to Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Federal tax credits are coordinated with the National Park Service.
• 20% federal tax credit
• 25% state tax credit
• Residential Historic Tax Credits: State historic tax credit program for qualified rehabilitation of residential historic properties. Must adhere to Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• 20% state tax credit

Contact the SHPO to discuss historic tax credit program details prior to applying.

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia

Grant Program

• Saving Historic Places Grant Program: Statewide grant program with revolving priorities.

Loan Program

• Historic Preservation Microloan Fund: Provides assistance for preservation and rehabilitation of historic properties.
• Loan amounts up to $20,000 with a 2% interest rate.