We are very excited to share that the Albany Downtown Association has launched our pre-application process to find a member project as our submission for the 2025 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant.
As in 2023, this statewide grant is open for downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network, including Historic Downtown Albany.
ADA’s project to restore the Oregon Electric Railway Station as the new home for Sybaris Bistro was among 28 projects selected in 2022. The grant-specific projects will be completed this April.
In 2023, ADA was awarded grants for the Greyhound Tavern and Briggs Building. The Greyhound grant projects were completed in June 2024, and Briggs is on track for the April 2026 completion deadline. We hope to find a competitive project and be awarded a grant for Downtown Albany again this year.
The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant is a competitive grant offered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Up from the $200,000 limit in 2022 and 2023, the 2025 opportunity is up to $400,000. Matching funds of at least 30% of the award is required. Matching funds can be in the form of cash, in-kind donations, and/or volunteer time. Working capital is also needed as the grant is on a reimbursement basis, typically quarterly.
The Revitalization Grant funds may be used to acquire, rehabilitate and construct buildings on properties. Funded projects must facilitate community revitalization that will lead to private investment, job creation or retention, establishing or expanding viable businesses or creating a stronger tax base. Projects may include façade improvement, accessibility enhancement, basic utilities, second-floor renovations and more.
The OMS Revitalization Grant application must be submitted by the Albany Downtown Association on the member’s behalf. Only one applicant will be submitted for Albany for this grant cycle.
To help the ADA grant committee select the project most in keeping with the grant mission and highest likelihood of winning an award and to ensure that the interested ADA member is properly prepared for the Oregon Main Street Application process, we are again requiring a “pre-application.
” Pre-applications will be reviewed and follow-up questions made by the ADA’s Grant Committee to make our final project selection. Once a project is selected, we will work together to complete the official SHPO grant application.
View & complete the pre-app at: https:// tinyurl.com/OMSGrantPreApp2025.
Grant Timeline
• Wed., Jan. 1 – ADA Pre-Application open
• Thur., Jan. 9 – Application workshop. Statewide zoom event hosted by Oregon Heritage & OMS. 1-4 pm. Open to all. Registration is required. https:// tinyurl.com/OMSgrantWorkshop2025
• Sun, Jan. 12 – ADA Pre-App deadline • Fri., Jan. 23 – Project partner announced. Partner starts ADA’s questionnaire.
• Mon., Feb. 3 – Questionnaire due to ADA. Collaboration on application begins.
• Tues., Feb. 25 – Partner application completed and due to reviewing committee
• Thurs., Mar. 13 – Final touches & submit online ap to Oregon Heritage
• May 2025 – Award notification
• Tues., July 1 – Project start date
• Mar 31, 2028 – Project Completion Deadline
In 2015, legislation established a permanent fund for the OMSRG and provided an initial $2.5 million of funding as part of a lottery bond package. In 2017, an additional $5 million was approved and funded through the 2019 lottery bond package. For 2025, the funding was increased to $10 million.
In 2023, the fourth grant cycle, SHPO awarded 27 OMS grants worth $4,997,535 to OMS Network organizations across Oregon for building projects that encourage economic vitality. The projects brought a matching investment of $13,470,908 to Oregon downtowns.
For more information, contact ADA at (541) 928-2469.
