Rhode Island is set to benefit from $1.25 million in grants awarded by the National Park Service. These funds aim to boost representation of diverse communities in the National Register of Historic Places, with two projects in the state receiving support.
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission gets $19,000 to prepare a National Register nomination for the ILZRO House in Foster. This project shines a light on the often-overlooked history of Disability Design.
Meanwhile, the Providence Preservation Society receives $74,692 to survey and nominate LGBTQ+ resources in Providence for the National Register.
These grants are part of a broader initiative covering 17 states and Washington, D.C., aimed at expanding the National Register through surveys and nominations.
The National Park Service says the Underrepresented Communities Grant Program has provided $8.25 million to various organizations to grow the National Register of Historic Places.
The ILZRO House project in Foster centers on Disability Design, an important aspect of architectural history. This nomination will help preserve and share how design has changed to meet the needs of disabled individuals.
In Providence, the LGBTQ+ project will document and recognize sites that are important to the community’s history in the city.
These grants come from the Historic Preservation Fund, which uses money from federal offshore oil and gas leases to fund preservation projects without tapping into tax dollars.
The National Park Service explains that these HPF grant programs support the preservation of key cultural resources and historic places across the country, including those in underrepresented communities, rural areas, and historically black colleges and universities.
Funding for these projects in fiscal year 2025 depends on Congressional approval. The Historic Preservation Fund is currently authorized at $150 million per year through fiscal year 2024.