Helene Survey and Planning Grant Program
🏛 Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
✓ Free, no account · Source: Virginia state grants portal · Last verified Jul 2, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and communities documenting historic resources impacted by Hurricane Helene in Virginia. Eligible applicants include local nonprofits, preservation organizations, and government agencies in the 37 declared disaster localities. Projects must focus on surveying historic architectural and archaeological resources, preservation planning, or nominating sites to the National Register of Historic Places.
Work must occur in central, southside, or southwestern Virginia counties and municipalities named in FEMA Major Disaster Declaration DR-4831. Applicants should have demonstrated capacity to conduct historic documentation or preservation planning. All projects require National Park Service approval before starting.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND (ESHPF) HELENE SURVEY AND PLANNING PROJECTS PROGRAM INFORMATION PURPOSE DHR has been awarded $2,000,000 in grant funds from the National Park Service’s (NPS) Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF). The funds will be used to support the documentation of historic resources in 37 localities across central, southside, and southwestern Virginia named in FEMA Major Disaster Declaration DR-4831, the declaration for Hurricane Helene in Virginia. The purpose of this program is to document the historic architectural and archaeological resources in the impacted areas. Funds will be awarded to community-driven efforts to survey these resources, local or regional preservation and disaster planning efforts, and at least one nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. DHR will request project proposals later this year. DHR will select and administer ESHPF projects under the supervision of the NPS with adherence to the HPF Grants Manual . All projects selected by DHR must be approved by the NPS before any work can begin. PROGRAM INFORMATION
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Project proposal (specific format TBD by DHR)
- Budget narrative
- Evidence of community support or partnerships
- Map showing eligible localities and project area
- Historic resources documentation or preliminary survey data
Program contact
- 👤 Joanna Hejl
- 📧 Joanna.Hejl@dhr.virginia.gov
- 📞 (804) 482-6061
FAQ
What geographic areas are covered by this grant?
37 localities in central, southside, and southwestern Virginia affected by Hurricane Helene under FEMA disaster declaration DR-4831. Check the full locality list before applying.
What types of projects are funded?
Historic resource surveys, preservation and disaster planning efforts, and National Register nominations. Projects must document architectural and archaeological resources in impacted areas.
When is the deadline?
September 18, 2026. DHR will request proposals later in 2024. Watch the Virginia DHR website for the formal call for proposals.
Who approves the final award?
DHR selects projects, but the National Park Service must approve all awards before work begins. Plan for this review period in your timeline.
Can my organization apply from outside Virginia?
No. Only organizations based in or working in the 37 eligible Virginia localities can apply. The grant funds work within these specific disaster areas.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start by reviewing the complete list of 37 eligible localities on the Virginia DHR website. Confirm your area qualifies before investing time in an application.
- Connect with local historical societies, preservation commissions, or archaeological groups. Collaborative projects are stronger and tap community knowledge.
- Document community need. Show how Hurricane Helene damaged local historic resources and why documentation is urgent.
- Align your project with at least one of the three focus areas: surveys, planning, or National Register nominations.
- Request proposal guidelines as soon as DHR announces them. Application requirements and deadlines may shift before the September 2026 deadline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Projects that don't focus on Hurricane Helene damage or work outside the 37 declared disaster localities will be ineligible. Applications lacking clear documentation of community need or partnership with local stakeholders underperform. Proposals without NPS approval pathway built into the timeline face delays or rejection.
Similar grants
- CLOSED Virginia’s Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Grant – FY26 — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- OPEN Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund (VBPF) – FY27 (2026) — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- CLOSED Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant (2026) — Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- CLOSED FY2025 Historic Preservation Fund- African American Civil Rights- Preservation Grants — National Park Service
- CLOSED FY2025 Historic Preservation Fund- African American Civil Rights- History Grants — National Park Service