The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History is offering up to $100 scholarships to individuals to attend a Downtown Revitalization Institute (DRI) workshop entitled “Historic Preservation as an Economic Tool” in Lewisburg from April 5 - 6. The workshop will focus on historic preservation and design issues.
Scott Day, principal of Urban Development Services in San Antonio, Texas will be the keynote speaker. Day has more than 20 years experience in downtown revitalization work. Other topics at the workshop will include sprawl and big box infill projects and their effects on historic downtowns, the National Register process, tax credits, the Secretary of Standards for Rehabilitation and acceptable new materials for rehabilitation projects. These sessions will be led by the West Virginia SHPO, National Park Service and West Virginia Planning Association.
Eligible applicants must be members of a historic landmarks commission designated as a Certified Local Government (CLG); elected officials of a city or county with a historic landmarks commission designated as a CLG; or staff members of a city or county with a historic landmarks commission designated as a CLG. If funding allows, scholarships to individuals not affiliated with a CLG will be considered.
Applications must be postmarked no later than March 21. Successful applicants will be notified by phone or letter of the scholarship monies they have been awarded.
The DRI workshop series provides training opportunities for economic development of downtown communities and is a partnership effort of Main Street West Virginia and Coalfield Community Development.
Registration for the Downtown Revitalization Institute workshop is $70 which includes all educational materials, lunch and refreshments both days. For more information, contact Marsha Geyer of Main Street West Virginia at (800) 982-3386 or by e-mail at mgeyer@wvdo.org.
Scholarship information and applications are available online at www.wvculture.org/shpo, or by contacting Chris Knorr, assistant director of the SHPO and its structural historian, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 156.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.