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ELLSWORTH — Grants of up to $20,000 are available through the Maine Community Foundation Belvedere Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency Grant Program.
The program invests in the preservation, restoration, and retrofitting of historic buildings in Maine. Deadline to apply is June 1.
The fund is for buildings listed or declared eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or for contributing buildings within a federally designated historic district. Historic Maine buildings owned by nonprofit organizations have been preserved or retrofitted since 2008 with more than $3 million in grants through the program.
Grants from the fund focus on capital investments in historic buildings owned by nonprofits that are civic, cultural or economic hubs for communities. The program also supports projects that increase energy efficiency in historic buildings; grant funds can be used for energy audits or to complete priorities identified in an audit report.
The late Deborah Pulliam, of Castine, named her MaineCF funds “Belvedere,” an architectural term that reflected her appreciation for historic buildings.
For more information, visit www.mainecf.org or contact Director of Grantmaking Laura Lee at 207-412-0838 or llee@mainecf.org.
2021 grant awardees in the Turner Publishing circulation area were:
Bearnstow, Mount Vernon, to support infrastructure needs in consultation with Maine Preservation and prioritize a three-year restoration plan: $10,000.
Farmington Historical Society, to continue improving the structural integrity and energy efficiency of the Octagon House so its architectural history will be preserved and on view year-round: $15,435.
Farmington Public Library Association, to seal leaks at the library, test for mold, and remedy damage caused by water entering the building: $11,012.
Hubbard Free Library, Hallowell, to insulate and air seal the basement and install adequate dehumidifiers to control moisture significantly improving energy efficiency and protection of the library’s collection: $18,873.
Phillips Public Library, to restore the front entrance to the building, including the porch, columns, and door, and repair the frames on 38 windows: $7,000.
Readfield Union Meeting House Company, to restore the Meeting House tower and belfry: $10,000
Woman’s Literary Union of Androscoggin County, Auburn, to repoint and repair three brick chimneys and for an energy efficiency audit at the Foss Mansion: $18,900.
PHOTO: Cathy Westleigh and Kathy Lawrence of the Woman’s Literary Union admire maintenance work on the Carriage House of the Foss Mansion in 2017. The WLU was awarded an $18,900 Belvedere grant in 2021 for further work on Foss Mansion. (File photo)
