The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation across the state. Its mission focuses on supporting communities in saving significant historical sites, emphasizing those that hold cultural and historical importance to them.
The Saving Historic Places Grant Program, including the special subprogram fund for Historic Schools, aims to foster economic development by assisting in the renovation and preservation of historic school buildings in rural communities of West Virginia experiencing significant poverty. Specifically, this competitive grant program supports efforts to prevent historic schools from becoming sources of blight or engaging in illegal activities after they close. It encourages communities to come together to preserve and repurpose these buildings, paving the way for further historic preservation incentives and private investment. With a fund of $665,000 for Round 1 and grant awards ranging from $50,000 to $300,000, the program seeks to allocate 5 to 10 grants by May 2024. Projects must gain approval from the National Park Service, and applicants are required to provide a 15% cash match for the requested grant amount.