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 2023 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant!
Like last year, this statewide grant is open for downtown revitalization efforts in communities participating in the Oregon Main Street Network including Historic Downtown Albany.
Albany Downtown Association’s project to restore the Oregon Electric Railway Station, and move Sybaris Bistro was among 28 projects selected in 2022. 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) for up to $200,000. 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.
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.
Albany’s OER Station project fills a well-defined need and met so many of the criteria including strong public outpouring, partner support and the city’s endorsement. Having a strong historic vision, a skilled team and the ability to complete the project following all Secretary of the Interior Standards on time are also key.
Working capital is also needed as the grant is on a reimbursement basis, typically quarterly.
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 the 2023 grant cycle.
To help the ADA grant committee in selecting the project most in keeping with the grant
mission and highest likelihood of winning an
award and to ensure that the interested Albany Downtown Association 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 Albany Downtown Association Grant Committee to make
our final project selection. Once a project is
selected, we will work together to complete
the official SHPO grant application.
The pre-application can be accessed at:
https://tinyurl.com/OMSGrantPreApp2023
Grant Timeline:
- Dec 5, 2022 – Albany Downtown Association Pre-Application open
- Jan 9 – ADA Building & Business Owner Mixer. Staff available for Q&A.
- Jan 22 – ADA Pre-Application deadline
- Jan 27 – Application workshop. Statewide zoom event hosted by Oregon Heritage & Oregon Main Street. 8:30 am – 11:30 am. Open to all. Registration is required.
- Feb 6 – Project winner announced and the collaboration to complete the full application begins
- Feb 26 – Project partner application completed and due to reviewing committee
- Mar 16 – Final touches on the grant application & submit to Oregon Main Street
- May – Award notification
- Apr 30, 2026 – Project Completion and Final Reporting Deadline
- TBD – Project Impact Reports: At final report and one year later.
For more information about Oregon Heritage Grants and previous winning projects visit: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx.
In 2015, legislation established a permanent fund for the grant and provided an initial $2.5 million of funding as part of a larger lottery bond package. In the 2017 legislative session, an additional $5 million was approved and was funded through the sale of the 2019 lottery bond package.
The 2021 bond sale was canceled due to the economic impact of COVID-19, but the Oregon legislature included Oregon Main Street
Revitalization Grant in the bond packages slated for 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, the third grant cycle, SHPO awarded 28 matching grants worth $5,000,000 to Oregon Main Street Network organizations
across the state for building projects that encourage economic vitality. The projects brought in a total matching investment of $6,083,421 to Oregon downtowns.
ADA’s grant application committee looks forward to reading through the applications to find the best partner and project.
If you have questions on the pre-application, please reach out to Lise Grato, Executive Director, at (541) 928-2469 or
director@albanydowntown.com or Stephanie Gutierrez, Economic Vitality Chair / ADA Board, at (541) 223-8131 or stephanie.g@kw.com. More information is also available at www.albanydowntown.com.
