The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is now accepting disaster-relief funding applications for historic properties in the state that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

To be eligible for Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Assistance Grants for Historic Properties, a storm-damaged property must be: listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places; owned by private individuals or organizations (excepting religious entities), local governments or the state; and have documented damage that resulted from the effects of the storm. Repair work funded by the grants must also be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and in compliance with a number of other state and federal regulations. Already-completed projects may be eligible for funding if they meet applicable requirements.

Applications must be postmarked or submitted no later than March 21, 2014. Successful applicants will receive notification of their awards no later than April 21, 2014.

Go the following for complete information on Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Assistance Grants for Historic Properties:

Summary of Information

Program Guidelines and Application

Electronic Application

Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Assistance Grants for Historic Properties are funded under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013, a $50.7 billion package of disaster assistance largely focused on responding to the effects of the destructive hurricane which struck the East Coast of the United States in late October 2012. The hurricane prompted major disaster declarations in the District of Columbia and 12 states, including Delaware. As part of the act, Congress appropriated $50 million to cover the costs of preserving and/or rehabilitating historic properties damaged by the storm. Subsequently, $1 million was allocated for Delaware’s component of the program which is being administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office.

For additional information about Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Assistance Grants for Historic Properties, contact the following:

Overall program administration
Gwen Davis, deputy state historic preservation officer, 302-736-7410 or gwen.davis@delaware.gov

Program and grant management
Joan Larrivee, architectural historian, 302-736-7406 or joan.larrivee@delaware.gov

National Register of Historic Places questions
Madeline Dunn, historian, 302-736-7417 or madeline.dunn@delaware.gov

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone:  302-736-7413
E-mail:  Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web:   http://history.delaware.gov

Ice cream social for potential volunteers to be held
at the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover on Sept. 5, 2013

The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be holding an open house/ice cream social for potential volunteers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Johnson Victrola Museum, located at 375 S. New St. in Dover, Del. The informal gathering will provide potential volunteers with an opportunity to learn about the division’s programs and speak with current volunteers about their experiences working at the agency. The event will also include an after-hours museum tour. Admission is free and open to the public, however, reservations are requested by contact the division’s volunteer services coordinator, Deanna Rishell, at 302-736-7411 or HCA_VolunteerSvcs@delaware.gov.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the state of Delaware that provides a diverse array of services including administration of the state historic preservation office, operation of six museums and a conference center, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections and management of historic properties across the state. Potential volunteer opportunities at the division include service in museum tours, historic preservation, archaeology, collections management, maintenance, special events, friends groups, marketing, information technology, research, horticulture, administration and much more.

Volunteers working at the division will be making a valuable contribution to the preservation of Delaware’s historical and cultural legacies. In addition, volunteer service provides meaningful, hands-on work, opportunities to meet new people and become a valuable team member, a chance to share talents with others and learn new skills, and opportunities to earn credit for internships or service hours.

For additional information about the volunteer open house/ice cream social and about volunteer opportunities at the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, go to the following Web address: https://www.smore.com/at81.
The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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 Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone:  302-736-7413
E-mail:  Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web:   http://history.delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has recently released “Preserving Our Past for a Better Future: Delaware’s Historic Preservation Plan, 2013–2017.” The plan provides all Delawareans who are passionate about historic preservation with a framework for effective decision-making, for coordinating statewide preservation activities and for communicating statewide preservation policy, goals and values to the preservation constituency, decision-makers and interested parties across the state. Go to the following to read the full plan. Printed copies are available on request.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone:  302-736-7413
E-mail:  Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web:   http://history.delaware.gov