Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund:
Eligible Activities

Requests for MPPF grants may be submitted for eligible pre-development, development, and acquisition projects. Make sure your project meets eligibility requirements before applying. If you need help, contact the MHC office.

Eligible Pre-development Projects

Requests may be submitted to conduct studies necessary to enable future development or protection of a State Register-listed property including:

Feasibility studies
Historical structure reporting

Any architectural/engineering fees to conduct these studies may qualify for funding. Costs associated with project signs, photography, and legal advertisements are also eligible.

Development Projects

Requests may be submitted for construction activities including stabilization, protection, and restoration.

Allowable costs:

Overall building preservation, stabilization, and restoration
Building code compliance (limited)
Barrier-free access (limited to no more than 30% of the total project costs)
Project signs
Photography
Recordings of the preservation restriction
Legal advertisements
Interior restoration (limited to restoration based upon documented historic evidence which must be provided)

If you’re unsure about eligibility, contact the MHC office to review your scope of work or individual work items.

Non-allowable costs:

Routine maintenance or upgrading of mechanical systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing)
Renovation of non-historic spaces
Moving of historic buildings
Construction of additions
Interior rehabilitation
Interiors of religious buildings, stained glass window conservation, or repairs of any other religious symbols

Architectural or engineering fees for any project work are not eligible for funding or use as matching share.

Acquisition Projects

Requests may be submitted to acquire State Register-listed properties that are imminently threatened with inappropriate alteration or destruction.