ALBERTA HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION MUNICIPAL HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Guidelines The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation was established in 1973 under the Historical Resources Act. It is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of individuals from different regions of the province and reports to the Minister of Culture and Tourism. Professional, technical and administrative support is provided by the Historic Resources Management Branch, Alberta Culture and Tourism. With an allocation from the Alberta Lottery Fund, the Foundation is the Government of Alberta s primary window for heritage preservation funding. The Municipal Heritage Partnership Program provides funding, expertise and resources to municipalities to help them establish or maintain an on-going municipal heritage conservation program. Financial assistance is available through survey grants, inventory grants and management plan grants. For more information on these guidelines and other programs of the Foundation, contact Matthew Francis, Manager of Municipal Heritage Services at 780-438-8502, matthew.francis@gov.ab.ca, 8820-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P8. Alberta government telephone numbers can be reached toll-free by first dialing 310-0000.
ALBERTA HISTORICAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION MUNICIPAL HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Survey Grants This category funds the identification of potential historic places. Funding is provided for the photographing and collection of baseline information within standardized survey forms to understand a site s architecture, age and history. Though a survey is a community-based project that provides an opportunity for the involvement of community volunteers, a professional heritage consultant is often engaged to facilitate the survey. The survey must be completed in accordance with the Creating a Future for Alberta s Historic Places manual parts 1, 2 and 3. The maximum matching grants per application are as follows: County/MD - $30,000 City - $30,000 Town - $20,000 Village - $10,000 Inventory Grants This category funds the identification of places a community values and wants to conserve. Funding is provided for the preparation of a historical context paper describing the relevant people, events and themes of development for the community as well as the preparation of Statements Significance and Statements of Integrity of for each place. Once a site is listed on an inventory, the municipality has the information required to designate it as a Municipal Historic Resource and have it listed on the Alberta Register of Historic Places. An inventory requires the establishment of a Heritage Advisory Body to select the sites to be inventoried, review draft documents and help guide the project. A professional heritage consultant is typically engaged to lead the inventory project and will work under the direction of municipal staff and the Heritage Advisory Board. The maximum matching grants per application are as follows: County/MD - $30,000 City - $30,000 Town - $20,000 Village - $10,000 Management Plan Grants This category funds the development of planning projects that assist in the conservation of historic places. A management plan includes policy, guidelines, incentives and processes for the set-up and operation of a municipal heritage conservation program. The management plan category may be extended to consider heritage planning projects more broadly, such as the development of statutory plans, design guidelines, zoning, mapping or other planning tools that include heritage conservation as a primary objective. Consultation and visioning projects may also be considered for funding. A management plan is a collaborative planning process that will involve stakeholder and public consultation. Depending on the scope of the project, the services of a professional heritage planning consultant may be required. The management plan must be completed in accordance with the Creating a Future for Alberta s Historic Places manual parts 5 and 6. The maximum matching grants per application are as follows: County/MD - $20,000 City - $20,000 Town - $15,000 Village - $7,500 The inventory must be completed in accordance with the Creating a Future for Alberta s Historic Places manual part 4. AHRF Municipal Heritage Partnership Program Guidelines 2014 Page 2
Definitions The Alberta Register of Historic Places (www.hermis.alberta.ca/arhp) is an online listing of Provincial and Municipal Historic Resources who have submitted mandatory documentation and have met the conditions for listing. A Heritage Advisory Body is a board, council, committee or some such body established by and reporting to a municipality s governing body on matters relating to heritage. A heritage value is the aesthetic, historic, scientific, social, or spiritual importance or significance for past, present and future generations. The heritage value of an historic place is embodied in its character-defining materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings. A historic place is a structure, building, group of buildings, districts, landscape, archaeological site that has been formally recognized for its heritage value. A Municipal Historic Resource is a historic place that has been formally recognized and legally protected by municipal bylaw, according to the terms set out in the Alberta Historical Resources Act. A Statement of Significance is a statement that identifies the description, heritage value(s) and character-defining elements of a historic place. AHRF Municipal Heritage Partnership Program Guidelines 2014 Page 3
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Application Applicants shall be municipal governments, including cities, towns, villages, summer villages, municipal districts, specialized municipalities and towns under the Parks Town Act. Prior to submitting an application, municipalities are encouraged to consult with the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program. Please contact the Manager of Municipal Heritage Services at 780-431-2300. Applicants may submit one application for funding at one time. Opportunities to combine projects into one application may be considered at the discretion of the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted in a calendar year. Letters of support shall be submitted with applications. At minimum a letter of support (or resolution of Council) is required from the Mayor/Reeve and Council of the municipality. Letters of support are recommended to be provided by local historical societies, the municipal Heritage Advisory Board (if applicable) and the area MLA. Application Deadlines There is no application deadline for funding proposals. Proposals are considered on a first-come-first-serve basis by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation at their quarterly meetings. Preferred submission dates for application proposals are announced on RETROactive (www.albertahistoricplaces.ca). Adjudication The grant applications are assessed by expert staff of the Ministry and are adjudicated by the Foundation s Board of Directors. Applicants are notified of the funding decision in writing. The Board may award grants greater than the stated maximums for each category. In general, the provision of grants is subject to the availability of program funding and the project s relative merit within a competitive adjudication. Funding Funds will be allocated through a grant agreement between the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and the municipality. Grants awarded are up to 50 percent of eligible project costs. Applicants are expected to contribute at least 50 percent of eligible costs. Contribution may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions can be used in lieu of cash up to a maximum of 25 percent of the total project cost. Funds received from other provincial lottery-funded agencies that were awarded for the same project cannot be used as applicant s matching contribution. These agencies include the Alberta Foundation for the Arts; Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation; Community Initiatives Program; Community Facility Enhancement Program and the Community Spirit Program. The level of funding will be determined based on the size of the municipality applying. In-Kind Contributions Eligible project costs include cash expenditures and the value of in-kind contributions. Eligible in-kind contributions include: Basic volunteer time @ $15/hr. Skilled volunteer time @ $30/hr. Fair market value for donated professional services and materials Office space Use of existing telephone/fax/computer/internet facilities Donated materials and supplies Staff time can be used as an in-kind contribution and will be accepted as cash contributions to the funding formula. All staff time must be contributed at a real auditable hourly or daily rate. Ineligible Costs Ineligible projects or expenses include: AHRF Municipal Heritage Partnership Program Guidelines 2014 Page 4
Projects that fall within the funding mandate of one of the Foundation s associated Provincial Heritage Organizations, such as the Alberta Museums Association and the Archives Society of Alberta Projects seeking debt reduction, such as repayment of loans or shortfall on completed projects Projects that have already been funded by the Foundation Purchase of books, equipment, such as cameras, computers and related hardware, tools, machinery Costs associated with administration, financial reporting, fundraising and similar activities Claiming the Grant Recipients will be asked to sign a grant agreement. To claim the grant, grant recipients must submit invoices/receipts and other documents supporting the eligible expenses that have been incurred. Partial claims may be submitted. Timeline Timelines associated with project completion will established as part of the grant agreement. Grants that are not claimed within a two-year period will be decommitted and the file will be closed. In special cases, extensions may be granted upon review of written requests to the Foundation. Each grant is limited to one approved extension with a maximum of one year. Acknowledgement of Financial Support Grant recipients are asked to publicly acknowledge the Foundation s financial support. Credit for support may be as follows: This project was funded in part by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. Copies of public acknowledgement should be sent to the Foundation. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure timely and proper payments to consultants. Final Reporting Recipients of are required to submit a final report and related materials as will be outlined in the grant agreement. For inventoried sites, mandatory documentation for potential listing on the Alberta Register of Historic Places shall also be a required submission. The balance of funds may be withheld at the Foundation s discretion until a final report and/or end product is received and approved. The Foundation is authorized to review all project financial records in connection with its contribution toward the project, through its appointed auditors, at no cost to the applicant. AHRF Municipal Heritage Partnership Program Guidelines 2014 Page 5
Application Submission Requirements Provide a brief proposal that discusses the following: Background of the municipality (including population, location, summary of heritage initiatives, description of local heritage organizations, community support) Objective(s) of the project Responsibilities (of consultant, of Heritage Advisory Board, of municipality) Anticipated community benefit of the project Proposed schedule (include start and completion dates) Proposed budget (break down of expected MHPP contributions and municipal contributions, including any in-kind contributions) Contact information Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of support, where applicable, from Mayor and Council, the Heritage Advisory Board, local heritage organizations and the local MLA. AHRF Municipal Heritage Partnership Program Guidelines 2014 Page 6