Preserve Southern Illinois Grant
The Landmarks Illinois Banterra Bank Preserve Southern Illinois Grant Program was established in 2022 to provide monetary assistance to preserve or protect significant structures or sites along commercial corridors of Southern Illinois.
Eligibility
Structures/Sites
- Eligible beneficiaries of Preserve Southern Illinois Grants are significant structures or sites located in or near a commercial corridor in the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO) Southern Region.
Applicants
- Commercial property owners, nonprofit organizations or governmental bodies working on a project in or near a commercial corridor are eligible applicants.
- Applicants must own the Eligible Structure or Site, or have sufficient legal control of the Eligible Structure or Site to permit the Eligible Project to be completed and protected as required by Landmarks Illinois.
- Applicants must possess the capacity to manage the grant funds prudently and have the expertise to execute the Eligible Project in accordance with its approved conditions. An applicant that lacks one or both of these attributes must submit to the expertise of a pro bono Sponsor elected by Landmarks Illinois if, in its sole discretion, it offers to provide it.
- Applicants are encouraged to seek preservation protection for the Eligible Structure from local, state or national preservation organizations as applicable if not already protected.
- A follow-up report of the project is required to be submitted to Landmarks Illinois within a determined time period.
Projects
- A project must benefit one or more specifically identified Eligible Structures or Sites and one or more specifically identified preservation issues. Projects relating to Eligible Structures or Sites on the most recent Landmarks Illinois “Endangered List” will be given priority consideration.
- A project must be for the purpose of preserving (rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse) all or part of an Eligible Structure or Site. Ordinary expenses of owning or maintaining an Eligible Structure or Site will not be considered preservation expenses.
- Landmarks Illinois strongly recommends that any documents or plans for preservation work prepared for the project conform to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as appropriate.
- A project may include one or more of the following services provided each service can satisfy the project conditions described above:
- Engineering, architectural, and feasibility studies
- Condition assessments
- Stabilization
- Rehabilitation
- Surveys and National Register Nominations
- A project may not include services that have been completed at the time a grant is requested.
Size of Grants
Grants range from $500—$2,500. The size of the grant will be determined by the need of the Eligible Applicant and will be awarded on a matching basis. A match may be a direct dollar amount or, using volunteer labor or services, equal the value of the grant.
How to Apply
A completed application must include:
- The Preserve Southern Illinois Grant application form
- Digital images of the Eligible Structure and/or Site
- A clear description of the threat to the building(s) or district, and a proposed plan of action.
- The application must specify the amount of money needed for the project.
- The applicant must provide documentation from the IRS of its not-for-profit status and the Bylaws of the organization as applicable.
Applications which do not include these items will not be considered complete.
Review of Application
- Landmarks Illinois Banterra Bank Preserve Southern Illinois Grants are awarded twice per year by Landmarks Illinois’ Executive Committee.
- Application deadlines: January 1 and July 1
- Applications will be judged on the importance of the Eligible Structure and/or Site, the nature and degree of the threat of demolition, the quality of the applicant organization, and the quality of the proposed plan of action.
- Landmarks Illinois has a limited amount of grant money available each fiscal year. Some worthwhile and eligible projects may not be awarded grants due to limited funds but may be considered in the following year.
Contact
Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment -- sgermann@landmarks.org